Conference on Fighting Malaria Opens in Dakar

Contacts
In Dakar: Mademba Ndiaye: (221) 637 8923
mndiaye@worldbank.org;

In Dakar until Sept. 15: Tim Carrington (221) 637 6739
tcarrington@worldbank.org

In Washington: Beldina Auma (202) 458-7307

baumaowuor@worldbank.org   

DAKAR, September 12, 2006 – Partners in the global fight against malaria convened in Dakar, Senegal for a week-long conference on accelerating country programs for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease in Africa. The conference, “Striking Back at Malaria by Accelerating Country Action in Sub-Saharan Africa,” brings together key international organizations, policymakers and civil society leaders to take stock of progress in supporting country strategies to combat malaria, and to address obstacles and funding gaps.

The conference, organized by the World Bank, was opened by Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade. Key actors in the Roll Back Malaria Partnership include:  the Word Health Organization, Unicef, the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. In addition, a group of civil society organizations, who are working with African governments to implement malaria programs, will participate in the Dakar program. 

The conference will conclude September 15 with recommendations for addressing specific roadblocks to progress and for providing financial and technical support for country programs.