Kirloskar to Distribute ExAblate(R) 2000 Non-Invasive Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound Systems Throughout the Country InSightec Ltd. today announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with Kirloskar, the leading distributor of radiation therapy equipment in India. Kirloskar will serve as a distributor of InSightec's products in India, working together with InSightec and GE Healthcare to promote non-invasive Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) technology and products to leading healthcare institutes throughout the country.
"This partnership expresses the importance of the Indian market," said Dr. Kobi Vortman, InSightec's president and CEO. "With India taking its place as one of the leading economies in the global market, enormous opportunities exist there. We believe that with its long and established presence in the region, Kirloskar is the ideal partner to help us maximize success in this important country. This agreement also emphasizes our increasing focus on the worldwide oncology market where we believe ExAblate has the potential to play a key role."
ExAblate enables physicians to perform noninvasive procedures that are an alternative to some of the current surgical and radiation procedures - without the use of a scalpel. Noninvasive procedures offer numerous benefits over conventional surgery, including a reduced chance of infection, fewer adverse events and significantly faster recoveries.
Mr. Amardeep Sethi, CEO, Kirloskar Technologies (P) Ltd. (KTPL) said "As a part of our business policy, we are always more than keen to add promising new medical technologies to our product portfolio. I am sure that with the support of KTPL's efficient sales and service team, ExAblate 2000 will soon become a well established treatment modality in India, offering a completely noninvasive treatment option with minimum post-treatment hospitalization and quicker return to daily routine".
The Indian Healthcare market, currently estimated at approximately $35 billion, is predicted to grow between 10 to 15 percent per year, reaching $150 billion by 2017. In addition to increasing domestic consumption of healthcare, due in part to the expected doubling of the nation's insured population, the market is expected to be complemented by an inflow of medical tourism. With an average treatment cost of one-eighth to one-fifth of those in western countries, Indian medical tourism has increased 20-fold from 10,000 in the year 2000 to about two million in 2006.
Over 5,500 patients worldwide have already benefited from the ExAblate treatment which is the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved system currently in use for the treatment of uterine fibroids.
The ExAblate system uses the breakthrough MRgFUS technology that combines MRI -- to visualize tissues in the body, plan the treatment and monitor, in real time, treatment outcome -- and high intensity focused ultrasound to thermally ablate tissue. MR thermal feedback, provided uniquely by the system, allows the physician to control and adjust the treatment in real time to ensure that the targeted tumor is fully treated and surrounding tissue is spared.
ExAblate received the CE Mark for uterine fibroids in October 2002 and FDA approval for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids in October 2004 and received CE mark for the treatment of pain caused by bone metastases in June 2007.
About Kirloskar Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (KTPL)
Kirloskar Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (KTPL) is today one of the leading suppliers of high-tech medical equipments in India. It is part of the 100-year-old Kirloskar Group.
With over 250 installations in 175 major government hospitals, medical colleges and private hospitals, KTPL's business philosophy revolves around providing solutions to customer hospitals. For this, KTPL has a large number of trained personnel in its service, providing quick, high quality and cost-effective solutions to client hospitals. For more information about Kirloskar Technologies, please go to: http://www.kirloskarmedical.com/
About InSightec
InSightec Ltd. is a privately-held company owned by Elbit Imaging, General Electric, MediTech Advisors, LLC and employees. It was founded in 1999 to develop the breakthrough MR guided Focused Ultrasound technology and transform it into the next generation operating room.
Headquartered near Haifa, Israel, the company has over 160 employees and has invested more than $130 million in research, development, and clinical investigations. Its U.S. headquarters are located in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please go to: http://www.insightec.com/
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
SGI Organizations Support Haiti Relief Efforts
Soka Gakkai International (SGI) organizations around the world have made donations to assist the relief efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake which hit the country on Tuesday January 12, 2010.
On January 15, Soka Gakkai Japan Vice President Kenji Yoshigo visited Jean Claude Bordes, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Tokyo, to pledge a contribution of 3 million yen (US$32,900) toward government-organized relief activities. At ceremonies held in Japan on January 17 to commemorate the victims of the massive earthquake which hit the port city of Kobe on that day in 1995, Soka Gakkai members offered special prayers for the victims of the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Haiti.
SGI members in the neighboring Dominican Republic have donated 2,400 bottles of water, canned food, powdered milk, and crackers to the NPO Socio Cultural Movement for Haitian Workers (MOSCTHA). Four SGI members from the Dominican Republic, including two doctors, have traveled to Haiti with MOSCTHA’s team to assist with the provision of emergency medical assistance.
SGI-Venezuela has pledged a donation of foodstuffs, diapers and sanitary towels through the Venezuelan Red Cross.
SGI-USA has donated US$10,000 to the American Red Cross International Response Fund and held extended prayer sessions for the repose of the victims.
Further afield, SGI-Hong Kong has contributed HK$200,000 (US$25,750) to the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF in support of relief activities, and the Taiwan Soka Association has pledged 1 million Taiwanese dollars (US$31,420) for relief efforts through the Ministry of the Interior which is responsible for humanitarian assistance.
SGI is a Buddhist association with over 12 million members around the world that promotes peace, culture and education. Its humanitarian relief activities are part of the longstanding traditions of socially engaged Buddhism.
On January 15, Soka Gakkai Japan Vice President Kenji Yoshigo visited Jean Claude Bordes, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Tokyo, to pledge a contribution of 3 million yen (US$32,900) toward government-organized relief activities. At ceremonies held in Japan on January 17 to commemorate the victims of the massive earthquake which hit the port city of Kobe on that day in 1995, Soka Gakkai members offered special prayers for the victims of the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Haiti.
SGI members in the neighboring Dominican Republic have donated 2,400 bottles of water, canned food, powdered milk, and crackers to the NPO Socio Cultural Movement for Haitian Workers (MOSCTHA). Four SGI members from the Dominican Republic, including two doctors, have traveled to Haiti with MOSCTHA’s team to assist with the provision of emergency medical assistance.
SGI-Venezuela has pledged a donation of foodstuffs, diapers and sanitary towels through the Venezuelan Red Cross.
SGI-USA has donated US$10,000 to the American Red Cross International Response Fund and held extended prayer sessions for the repose of the victims.
Further afield, SGI-Hong Kong has contributed HK$200,000 (US$25,750) to the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF in support of relief activities, and the Taiwan Soka Association has pledged 1 million Taiwanese dollars (US$31,420) for relief efforts through the Ministry of the Interior which is responsible for humanitarian assistance.
SGI is a Buddhist association with over 12 million members around the world that promotes peace, culture and education. Its humanitarian relief activities are part of the longstanding traditions of socially engaged Buddhism.
High-level UN meeting to examine progress in implementation of plan to help least developed countries
Bangladesh Prime Minister scheduled to address Dhaka event
Bangkok (UN ESCAP Information Services) – The United Nations is set to convene a meeting next week in Bangladesh to assess and develop a regional position for Asia and the Pacific ahead of a global review next year on progress made in assisting the world’s least developed countries (LDCs).
From 18 to 20 January in Dhaka, ministers and senior government officials from15 countries will also seek to identify key issues requiring global and regional cooperation to further advance the objectives of the 2001-2010 Brussels Programme of Action (BPoA). That programme seeks “to make substantial progress toward halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty and suffering from hunger by 2015 and promote the sustainable development of the LDCs.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh is slated to inaugurate the meeting, and ministers from eight LDCs are expected to take part in a ministerial-level exchange. Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), will participate in the meeting along with Cheick Sidi Diarra, UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.
During her visit, Dr. Heyzer is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Hasina, as well as with President Zillur Rahman, Finance Minister Abul Mal A Muhith and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni. The Executive Secretary’s itinerary also includes a visit to the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed, a rehabilitation facility for injured spinal patients outside Dhaka in Savar.
Discussions at the three-day meeting are expected to cover issues and concerns related to reducing poverty and hunger by promoting sustainable and inclusive development in the LDCs; promoting food security through sustainable agriculture; and enhancing the share of LDCs in global trade, aid and financial flows and promoting their productive capacity.
Participants will also look at protecting the environment and reducing the vulnerability of the LDCs to climate change, and developing human and institutional capacities to support inclusive and sustainable development of the LDCs.
The meeting’s results will be presented in May to the annual ESCAP Commission session in Incheon, Republic of Korea, for further discussion by member States. Afterwards an assessment of implementation of the BPoA and future priorities at the regional level will be transmitted to the global review in 2011 in Turkey.
The 14 LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region for the purposes of Brussels review include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Yemen, the lone LDC in the Middle East, is also participating in the meeting.
Bangkok (UN ESCAP Information Services) – The United Nations is set to convene a meeting next week in Bangladesh to assess and develop a regional position for Asia and the Pacific ahead of a global review next year on progress made in assisting the world’s least developed countries (LDCs).
From 18 to 20 January in Dhaka, ministers and senior government officials from15 countries will also seek to identify key issues requiring global and regional cooperation to further advance the objectives of the 2001-2010 Brussels Programme of Action (BPoA). That programme seeks “to make substantial progress toward halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty and suffering from hunger by 2015 and promote the sustainable development of the LDCs.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh is slated to inaugurate the meeting, and ministers from eight LDCs are expected to take part in a ministerial-level exchange. Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), will participate in the meeting along with Cheick Sidi Diarra, UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.
During her visit, Dr. Heyzer is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Hasina, as well as with President Zillur Rahman, Finance Minister Abul Mal A Muhith and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni. The Executive Secretary’s itinerary also includes a visit to the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed, a rehabilitation facility for injured spinal patients outside Dhaka in Savar.
Discussions at the three-day meeting are expected to cover issues and concerns related to reducing poverty and hunger by promoting sustainable and inclusive development in the LDCs; promoting food security through sustainable agriculture; and enhancing the share of LDCs in global trade, aid and financial flows and promoting their productive capacity.
Participants will also look at protecting the environment and reducing the vulnerability of the LDCs to climate change, and developing human and institutional capacities to support inclusive and sustainable development of the LDCs.
The meeting’s results will be presented in May to the annual ESCAP Commission session in Incheon, Republic of Korea, for further discussion by member States. Afterwards an assessment of implementation of the BPoA and future priorities at the regional level will be transmitted to the global review in 2011 in Turkey.
The 14 LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region for the purposes of Brussels review include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Yemen, the lone LDC in the Middle East, is also participating in the meeting.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Australian Embassy Bangkok invited to the pre-departure briefing and the Reception to congratulate the recipients of 2010 Endeavour Awards
The Australian Embassy Bangkok invites you to attend the pre-departure briefing session and the Reception to congratulate 19 distinguished Thai scholars and professionals who have been selected as Endeavour Award 2010 recipients on Thursday 21 January at 17.30 p.m. at The Dusit Thani Hotel.
The function will begin with a pre-departure briefing session for recipients by the Australian Education International (AEI) to the recipients at Saladaeng Room, The Dusit Thani Hotel, at 17.30 p.m.
The session will be followed by a reception hosted by H.E. Paul Grigson, Australian Ambassador to Thailand who will preside over the awarding ceremony to congratulate the 2010 Australian Award recipients.
Media are invited to attend to meet with the 2010 Award recipients, past recipients and VIP guests.
The program is as follow:
17:00 Registration
17:30 Pre-departure session by the Australian Education International (AEI)
at Saladaeng Room, The Dusit Thani Hotel
18:30 Guests arrival to the Saladaeng Room, The Dusit Thani Hotel
18:45 Reception Function commences
18:55 Speech by Ambassador
Presentation of plaques, group photo and interview by media
The function will begin with a pre-departure briefing session for recipients by the Australian Education International (AEI) to the recipients at Saladaeng Room, The Dusit Thani Hotel, at 17.30 p.m.
The session will be followed by a reception hosted by H.E. Paul Grigson, Australian Ambassador to Thailand who will preside over the awarding ceremony to congratulate the 2010 Australian Award recipients.
Media are invited to attend to meet with the 2010 Award recipients, past recipients and VIP guests.
The program is as follow:
17:00 Registration
17:30 Pre-departure session by the Australian Education International (AEI)
at Saladaeng Room, The Dusit Thani Hotel
18:30 Guests arrival to the Saladaeng Room, The Dusit Thani Hotel
18:45 Reception Function commences
18:55 Speech by Ambassador
Presentation of plaques, group photo and interview by media
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ESCAP, Myanmar development partnership seeks to boost agricultural sector and enhance rural livelihoods
Nobel laureate Stiglitz leads expert discussions on restoring country as rice bowl of Asia
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Government of the Union of Myanmar today held a wide-ranging dialogue aimed at boosting the countrys agricultural sector and to help it reclaim its status as the rice bowl of Asia.
At the invitation of ESCAP, Nobel Prize-winning economist Prof. Joseph Stiglitz and other eminent experts discussed strategies for Myanmar to cut poverty in light of Asias regional and subregional experiences.
It is my hope these ideas and analysis will open a new space for policy discussion and a further deepening of our development partnership, UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer said at the event held in Myanmars capital, Naypyitaw.
These development objectives can only be achieved through the successful engagement of local experts and people who know what is happening on the ground. This development partnership, requested by the Government of Myanmar, provides a unique platform for eminent international scholars and local researchers to exchange experiences and ideas with government agencies and civil society, Dr. Heyzer added.
This is the second in a series of events launched by Dr. Heyzer during her visit in July to Myanmar, and was organized by ESCAP with the countrys Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development.
In his presentation, Towards a more productive agrarian economy for Myanmar, Professor Stiglitz noted that Myanmar was well-positioned to learn from other countries in the region that have developed on the back of gains in agriculture. There are large opportunities for improvement. Myanmar should take a comprehensive approach, he said.
He urged the Government of Myanmar to: promote access to appropriate agricultural financing; take measures to boost access to seeds and fertilizers; dramatically boost spending on health and education; and create well-paid jobs in construction of rural infrastructure in order to stimulate development and raise incomes and spending.
Professor Stiglitz also noted that well-functioning institutions were critical to success, and that Myanmar could learn from the mistakes made by other resource-rich countries. Revenues from oil and gas can open up a new era, if used well. If not, then valuable opportunities will be squandered, he said.
Economics and politics can not be separated, Professor Stiglitz added. For Myanmar to take a role on the world stage and to achieve true stability and security there must be widespread participation and inclusive processes. This is the only way forward for Myanmar.
Maj. Gen. U Htay Oo, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Myanmar, noted that climate change has had significant effects on the countrys agriculture and livelihood, particularly in the dry zone. To mitigate such pressure we are implementing short-term and longer term measures, such as promoting access to irrigation water to increase productivity, and developing resource-based as well as knowledge-based sustainable agriculture and livelihoods built on existing infrastructures, he said.
We are adopting a holistic approach informed by the human development perspective to address the needs of the most vulnerable, he added. We cannot afford to be complacent thus the tasks for agriculture and rural development must be implemented through mass movement.
The Minister also welcomed and supported the continued close cooperation and collaboration of ESCAP in the development partnership series. I look forward to the joint activities to come in 2010, in particular the regional development programme for sustainable agriculture towards inclusive rural economy development, he said.
Col. Thurin Zaw, Deputy Minister of National Planning and Economic Development, delivered a presentation on Myanmars National development plans and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The meeting was organized into two segments: The morning roundtable was devoted to expert discussions and included presentations on Recent socio-economic development, by Daw Khin Ma Ma Swe of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, and on Approaches for agriculture and rural development, by Daw Dolly Kyaw of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
There were also presentations on Establishing the virtuous cycle of food security, sustainable agriculture and rural economy development, by U Tin Htut Oo and U Tin Maung Shwe of the Academy of Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries Sciences, and on Enhancing Myanmars rural economy, by Ikuko Okamoto of the Institute of Developing Economies-JETRO.
The afternoon high-level development forum covered, Economic policies for growth and poverty reduction: lessons from the region and beyond.
On 21 December in Singapore, Professor Stiglitz and Dr Heyzer will hold a press conference about the forum at the Singapore Foreign Correspondents Association. The press conference will take place at the Singapore Management University, Administration Building, from 9am-10am.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Government of the Union of Myanmar today held a wide-ranging dialogue aimed at boosting the countrys agricultural sector and to help it reclaim its status as the rice bowl of Asia.
At the invitation of ESCAP, Nobel Prize-winning economist Prof. Joseph Stiglitz and other eminent experts discussed strategies for Myanmar to cut poverty in light of Asias regional and subregional experiences.
It is my hope these ideas and analysis will open a new space for policy discussion and a further deepening of our development partnership, UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer said at the event held in Myanmars capital, Naypyitaw.
These development objectives can only be achieved through the successful engagement of local experts and people who know what is happening on the ground. This development partnership, requested by the Government of Myanmar, provides a unique platform for eminent international scholars and local researchers to exchange experiences and ideas with government agencies and civil society, Dr. Heyzer added.
This is the second in a series of events launched by Dr. Heyzer during her visit in July to Myanmar, and was organized by ESCAP with the countrys Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development.
In his presentation, Towards a more productive agrarian economy for Myanmar, Professor Stiglitz noted that Myanmar was well-positioned to learn from other countries in the region that have developed on the back of gains in agriculture. There are large opportunities for improvement. Myanmar should take a comprehensive approach, he said.
He urged the Government of Myanmar to: promote access to appropriate agricultural financing; take measures to boost access to seeds and fertilizers; dramatically boost spending on health and education; and create well-paid jobs in construction of rural infrastructure in order to stimulate development and raise incomes and spending.
Professor Stiglitz also noted that well-functioning institutions were critical to success, and that Myanmar could learn from the mistakes made by other resource-rich countries. Revenues from oil and gas can open up a new era, if used well. If not, then valuable opportunities will be squandered, he said.
Economics and politics can not be separated, Professor Stiglitz added. For Myanmar to take a role on the world stage and to achieve true stability and security there must be widespread participation and inclusive processes. This is the only way forward for Myanmar.
Maj. Gen. U Htay Oo, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Myanmar, noted that climate change has had significant effects on the countrys agriculture and livelihood, particularly in the dry zone. To mitigate such pressure we are implementing short-term and longer term measures, such as promoting access to irrigation water to increase productivity, and developing resource-based as well as knowledge-based sustainable agriculture and livelihoods built on existing infrastructures, he said.
We are adopting a holistic approach informed by the human development perspective to address the needs of the most vulnerable, he added. We cannot afford to be complacent thus the tasks for agriculture and rural development must be implemented through mass movement.
The Minister also welcomed and supported the continued close cooperation and collaboration of ESCAP in the development partnership series. I look forward to the joint activities to come in 2010, in particular the regional development programme for sustainable agriculture towards inclusive rural economy development, he said.
Col. Thurin Zaw, Deputy Minister of National Planning and Economic Development, delivered a presentation on Myanmars National development plans and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The meeting was organized into two segments: The morning roundtable was devoted to expert discussions and included presentations on Recent socio-economic development, by Daw Khin Ma Ma Swe of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, and on Approaches for agriculture and rural development, by Daw Dolly Kyaw of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
There were also presentations on Establishing the virtuous cycle of food security, sustainable agriculture and rural economy development, by U Tin Htut Oo and U Tin Maung Shwe of the Academy of Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries Sciences, and on Enhancing Myanmars rural economy, by Ikuko Okamoto of the Institute of Developing Economies-JETRO.
The afternoon high-level development forum covered, Economic policies for growth and poverty reduction: lessons from the region and beyond.
On 21 December in Singapore, Professor Stiglitz and Dr Heyzer will hold a press conference about the forum at the Singapore Foreign Correspondents Association. The press conference will take place at the Singapore Management University, Administration Building, from 9am-10am.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
ESCAP and Russian Federation to Sign Cooperative Development Agreement
Signing ceremony Thursday 11:30, 17 December at ESCAP Building
The Economic and Social Commission in Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) – the regional arm of the United Nations - and the Russian Federation will sign an agreement this Thursday to strengthen cooperation, with a view to promoting inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific.
Under the agreement, the Russian Federation provides a voluntary
contribution of US$ 1.2 million annually during the period 2009-2010 to support key programme activities of ESCAP.
ESCAP will be hosting a signing ceremony where Mr. Gennady Gatilov of the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP will formalize the agreement.
In response to the regional development priorities, the Russian contribution will be used for technical cooperation projects to develop capacities and improve development in key areas such as environment, energy, regional transport connectivity, disaster risk reduction, statistics and migration.
The ceremony will take place Thursday 17 December 2009, 11:30 on the 15th floor of the ESCAP Secretariat building. Media are welcome to cover the ceremony. Please register in advance for building access at unisbkk.unescap@un.org.
The Economic and Social Commission in Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) – the regional arm of the United Nations - and the Russian Federation will sign an agreement this Thursday to strengthen cooperation, with a view to promoting inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific.
Under the agreement, the Russian Federation provides a voluntary
contribution of US$ 1.2 million annually during the period 2009-2010 to support key programme activities of ESCAP.
ESCAP will be hosting a signing ceremony where Mr. Gennady Gatilov of the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP will formalize the agreement.
In response to the regional development priorities, the Russian contribution will be used for technical cooperation projects to develop capacities and improve development in key areas such as environment, energy, regional transport connectivity, disaster risk reduction, statistics and migration.
The ceremony will take place Thursday 17 December 2009, 11:30 on the 15th floor of the ESCAP Secretariat building. Media are welcome to cover the ceremony. Please register in advance for building access at unisbkk.unescap@un.org.
MALARIA PROGRESS REPORT SHOWS THAT DEVELOPMENT AID FOR HEALTH IS WORKING
Significant progress has been made in delivering life saving malaria nets and treatments over the past few years, but the coverage of malaria programmes needs to be stepped up drastically in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to a report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The World Malaria Report 2009 found that the increase in international funding commitments (US$ 1.7 billion in 2009 compared to US$ 730 million in 2006) had allowed a dramatic scale up of malaria control interventions in several countries, along with measurable reductions in malaria burden. However, the amounts available still fall short of the US$ 5 billion required annually to ensure high coverage and maximal impact worldwide.
The WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, described the findings in the report as cause for cautious optimism and said "While much remains to be done, the data presented here clearly suggest that the tremendous increase in funding for malaria control is resulting in the rapid scale up of today's control tools. This, in turn, is having a profound effect on health - especially the health of children in sub-Saharan Africa. In a nutshell, development aid for health is working."
The report found that more life-saving malaria nets and treatments were delivered in 2007 and 2008 compared to 2006.
More African households (31%) own at least one insecticide-treated net (ITN), and more children under 5 years of age used an ITN in 2008 (24%) compared to previous years. These averages are affected by low ITN ownership in several large African countries for which resources for scale-up are only now being made available. Household ITN ownership reached more than 50% in 13 of the 35 highest burden African countries.
Use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) is increasing but remains low in most African countries with fewer than 15% of children with fever receiving an ACT.
More than one-third of the 108 malarious countries (9 African countries and 29 outside of Africa) documented reductions in malaria cases of more than 50% in 2008 compared to 2000.
Where scale-up of proven interventions has occurred, and surveillance systems are functioning, remarkable impact has been documented:
In countries and areas that have achieved high coverage with bed nets and treatment programmes (e.g. Eritrea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zambia and Zanzibar, the United Republic of Tanzania) recorded cases and deaths due to malaria have fallen by 50% (target set by World Health Assembly for 2010) suggesting that MDG target for malaria can be achieved if there is adequate coverage of key interventions.
Large decreases in malaria cases and deaths have been mirrored by steep declines in all-cause deaths among children less than 5 years of age suggesting that intensive efforts at malaria control could help many African countries to reach, by 2015, a two-thirds reduction in child mortality as set forth in the MDGs.
High levels of external assistance were shown to be linked to decreases in malaria incidence. However, many external funds are concentrated on smaller countries with lower disease burdens. More attention needs to be given to ensuring success in large countries that account for most malaria cases and deaths.
Parasite resistance to anti-malarial medicines and mosquito resistance to insecticides are major threats to achieving global malaria control. Confirmation of artemisinin resistance was reported in 2009, and WHO is leading a major resistance containment effort in South East Asia. Key elements in the global strategy to prevent the spread of drug resistance include: 1) Rapidly reducing the spread of malaria using malaria preventive tools 2) ensuring that all malaria infections are correctly diagnosed, effectively treated and followed-up to ensure that they do not spread the disease to others 3) halting the marketing and use of oral artemisinin monotherapies and importantly, 4) carefully monitoring the efficacy of medicines to detect early evidence of resistance.
The report noted that there was urgent need for the global community to completely fund the Global Malaria Action Plan in order to sustain early success and achieve the 2015 MDGs. The African Region had the largest increase in funding of all regions, led by investments by the Global Fund, the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, and other agencies.
The success of malaria control efforts will be in reducing the burden of malaria and improving child survival. Investing in malaria control is not only helping the world to reach the MDGs, but is also helping to build health systems that will ensure that these development gains are sustained.
The World Malaria Report 2009 found that the increase in international funding commitments (US$ 1.7 billion in 2009 compared to US$ 730 million in 2006) had allowed a dramatic scale up of malaria control interventions in several countries, along with measurable reductions in malaria burden. However, the amounts available still fall short of the US$ 5 billion required annually to ensure high coverage and maximal impact worldwide.
The WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, described the findings in the report as cause for cautious optimism and said "While much remains to be done, the data presented here clearly suggest that the tremendous increase in funding for malaria control is resulting in the rapid scale up of today's control tools. This, in turn, is having a profound effect on health - especially the health of children in sub-Saharan Africa. In a nutshell, development aid for health is working."
The report found that more life-saving malaria nets and treatments were delivered in 2007 and 2008 compared to 2006.
More African households (31%) own at least one insecticide-treated net (ITN), and more children under 5 years of age used an ITN in 2008 (24%) compared to previous years. These averages are affected by low ITN ownership in several large African countries for which resources for scale-up are only now being made available. Household ITN ownership reached more than 50% in 13 of the 35 highest burden African countries.
Use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) is increasing but remains low in most African countries with fewer than 15% of children with fever receiving an ACT.
More than one-third of the 108 malarious countries (9 African countries and 29 outside of Africa) documented reductions in malaria cases of more than 50% in 2008 compared to 2000.
Where scale-up of proven interventions has occurred, and surveillance systems are functioning, remarkable impact has been documented:
In countries and areas that have achieved high coverage with bed nets and treatment programmes (e.g. Eritrea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Zambia and Zanzibar, the United Republic of Tanzania) recorded cases and deaths due to malaria have fallen by 50% (target set by World Health Assembly for 2010) suggesting that MDG target for malaria can be achieved if there is adequate coverage of key interventions.
Large decreases in malaria cases and deaths have been mirrored by steep declines in all-cause deaths among children less than 5 years of age suggesting that intensive efforts at malaria control could help many African countries to reach, by 2015, a two-thirds reduction in child mortality as set forth in the MDGs.
High levels of external assistance were shown to be linked to decreases in malaria incidence. However, many external funds are concentrated on smaller countries with lower disease burdens. More attention needs to be given to ensuring success in large countries that account for most malaria cases and deaths.
Parasite resistance to anti-malarial medicines and mosquito resistance to insecticides are major threats to achieving global malaria control. Confirmation of artemisinin resistance was reported in 2009, and WHO is leading a major resistance containment effort in South East Asia. Key elements in the global strategy to prevent the spread of drug resistance include: 1) Rapidly reducing the spread of malaria using malaria preventive tools 2) ensuring that all malaria infections are correctly diagnosed, effectively treated and followed-up to ensure that they do not spread the disease to others 3) halting the marketing and use of oral artemisinin monotherapies and importantly, 4) carefully monitoring the efficacy of medicines to detect early evidence of resistance.
The report noted that there was urgent need for the global community to completely fund the Global Malaria Action Plan in order to sustain early success and achieve the 2015 MDGs. The African Region had the largest increase in funding of all regions, led by investments by the Global Fund, the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, and other agencies.
The success of malaria control efforts will be in reducing the burden of malaria and improving child survival. Investing in malaria control is not only helping the world to reach the MDGs, but is also helping to build health systems that will ensure that these development gains are sustained.
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