UNICEF, the leading agency for children globally established in 1946 and operating in 183 countries including The Gambia,  has merited The Gambia  as one of the 44 countries that signed the Abuja Declaration in 2000 to halve the burden of the deadly illness, Malaria, by 2010.

Celebrations for world Malaria Day kick-off tomorrow .

According to reports from UNICEF Banjul office, The Gambia  is also the country most likely to reach the 2010 target set for 80 percent coverage for Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) for children under five and pregnant women nationwide.

Min-Whee Kang, UNICEF Representative in Banjul in her own words said,"UNICEF congratulates the Government of The Gambia for its strong political will to combat malaria and other preventable childhood diseases.

However, we also recognize the fact that, although The Gambia leads the way in meeting the commitments of the Abuja Declaration in 2000, challenges are still widespread and there is no room for complacency.  As active members of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partnership, we must continue to work together in a steadfast manner, consolidate the gains made, and channel our collective efforts to reach the 2010 targets,"

UNICEF's  global procurement of bed nets reports has expanded from around 7 million nets in 2004 to nearly 25 million in 2006, and around 17 million in 2007.  Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) usage in sub-Saharan African countries in accelerating.  According to the 2007 report on malaria and children, sixteen of twenty countries with available data reported at least a three-fold increase in their use since around 2000.

Min-Whee Kang, continued that "World Malaria Day provides an opportunity for all of us to refocus and redouble our efforts to ensure that we attain, not 80 percent but 100 percent ITN coverage for every child under the age of five and pregnant women in this country from Banjul to Basse.  If all partners in the fight against malaria channel our efforts to achieve a blanket coverage of these two most adversely affected groups, their morbidity and mortality rates due to malaria can be reduced dramatically.  We can get there because we are nearly there," Min-Whee Kang said.

Almost half a billion people globally get infected with malaria annually.  Malaria takes the life of a child every thirty seconds, making it the number one child killer disease.

This year's theme aims to bring governments, NGOs, the private sector, faith based organizations and civil society to commit to a Call to action to combat malaria with all resources, commitment and political will at all levels across the all sectors.