Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced today that she will co-chair the newly formed Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA).
The commitment follows an Australian initiated declaration at the 7th East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh that was adopted by leaders of the region–where countries agreed to work collaboratively to address malaria control and resistance to antimalarial medicines. APLMA assists with the implementation of this commitment.
The establishment of this Leaders Alliance also achieves a key priority action agreed by countries of the region at the 'Malaria2012: Saving Lives in the Asia Pacific' conference. The conference was jointly hosted by Australia's Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr and the United Nations Special Envoy on Malaria, Ray Chambers, in Sydney last year.
APLMA's role is to unite countries to invigorate the fight against malaria and to promote regional political leadership and collaboration. It will mobilise country and regional action and review progress against agreed malaria targets.
Yesterday was World Malaria Day–an opportunity to reflect on the fact that despite being a wholly preventable and treatable disease, malaria killed more than 42,000 people in the Asia Pacific in 2010 and causes more than 650,000 deaths worldwide every year. The emergence of drug resistant malaria is a serious threat to our region and to the global fight against malaria.
Australia will spend a further $100 million over the next four years to help reduce deaths and illness from malaria in the region.
More information
- PM media release: Asia-Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance [external website]
- East Asia leaders agree to collective action on malaria
- PM Media Release 2012: Regional Leaders Unite In The Fight Against Malaria [external website]
- 7th East Asia Summit Declaration on 'Regional Responses to Malaria Control and Addressing Resistance to Antimalarial Medicines' [external website]