"Getting to Zero" on Malaria Deaths

Oslo, 12 April 2011: "We need to change our approaches to delivery and the gathering of evidence and its use at the local level to address those who fall through the gaps; if we don’t, we will not achieve universal coverage nor our aim of “getting to zero”.

Sunil Mehra, executive director of Malaria Consortium, was speaking today on the important role that evidence needs to play in the delivery of effective malaria interventions at the Oslo Malaria Conference, where malaria experts from across the globe are gathered for a two day debate on innovative approaches and best practice on malaria control and progress towards eventual eradication.
 
Delegates from the private and charity sector, as well as implementers and experts from science and industry, are gathered in Norway's capital city to discuss progress and development of new malaria control technologies and innovative approaches towards 2015. Presentations on best practices and lessons learnt from effective public/private partnerships, will support debates on ways to strengthen partnerships between civil society and the public and private sectors in a challenging funding environment to ensure sustainable funding.
 
Sunil Mehra was accompanied on the platform by Joy Phumaphi from the African Leaders Malaria Alliance and representatives from other implementing organisations.
 
The event was conceived and organised ahead of World Malaria Day 2011 by the Norwegian Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is intended that the conference will create a set of recommendations and key milestones, which will facilitate the achievement of the 2015 health related MDG targets.
 
Sven Mollekliev, the President of the Norwegian Red Cross, said that the aim of the international community in the 21st century should be to eliminate all deaths from the disease. Speaking before the event, he said, “To tackle malaria, we need to think of it as an investment case that offers tremendous long-term yield. We need to implement and facilitate access to health services as a core human right."
 
To learn more about the event and watch the presentations, please click here.
 
For more information, please contact Diana Thomas [email protected]