The Gambia will on Friday April 25th, join the international community to observe World Malaria Day, schedule to take place in Bakadaji in the Upper River Region.

This years theme is "malaria a disease without borders' with an  accompanying slogan, 'unite to combat malaria'. It is estimated that an African child dies of malaria every 30 seconds.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday at the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) conference hall ahead of the celebrations, Mrs Adam Jagne Sonko, deputy program manager, NMCP, said that malaria is a major public health problem with over 300 to 500 million people globally suffering and over one million deaths occur annually.

"At least 60% of those suffering from malaria have prompt access to and are able to use affordable and appropriate treatment within 24 hours at the onset at symptoms" she said.

According to Mrs sonleo, 60% of all pregnant women who are at risk of malaria especially those in their first pregnancies, have access to chemoprophylaxis or presumptive intermittent treatment.

For his part, Dr Nestor Shivute, WHO Representative in The Gambia said the World Health Assembly at its 60th session last year recognised World Malaria Day as an opportunity for countries in the affected regions, to learn from each other's experiences and support each others effort in controlling malaria.

He highlighted the key intervention strategies to control malaria recommended by WHO such as the use of insecticide treated nets by people at risk, residual spraying with insecticide to control the vector mosquitoes and prompt and effective treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies" he said.

Jeggan Grey-Johnson, UNICEF communication officer who deputised for the UNICEF Representative said that, Unicef has rolled out over 30,000 nets and assisted the government of The Gambia with US$345, 000 dollars over 36 months to combat malaria.  "This efforts will continue, especially through the strong partnership that exists within the Roll Back Malaria Initiative, put into motion in 1998 by the WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and the World Bank" he said.

According to him, the Roll Back Malaria builds partnership to mobilise global support and resources to reduce the malaria burden. This partnerships he said, has been and remain strong in The Gambia, but stressed the need for other sectors to join in the crusade against malaria.