Foreword
When the World Bank published Rolling Back Malaria: The World Bank Global Strategy and Booster Program in 2005, the world had what now seems like a modest goal of halving malaria deaths in Africa by 2010. At the time, many thought that target unrealistic and doubted the commitment of both African and global partners to achieving it. Since then, an influx of new funding, new partners, and remarkable successes in several Sub- Saharan African countries have re energized the global malaria control movement. These developments, combined with a recognition that to do too little about malaria will cost too much in terms of lives lost and lower economic productivity and growth, convinced the global community that we could and should adopt a more ambitious goal- the elimination of malaria as a public health problem on the continent.
This surge of optimism took place as the World Bank was developing the second phase of its Booster Program for Malaria Control in Africa. We embraced this new goal and incorporated it into our strategy, which has been vetted and revised with many stakeholders over several months.
The 2005 World Bank Global Strategy and Booster Program reiterated the Bank's corporate commitment to helping reduce the burden of malaria in Africa. This was translated into concrete action in Africa through the Booster Program for Malaria Control in Africa. This program helped generate increased political commitment by governments, helped bring in new partners, and greatly increased the availability of nets, drugs, insecticides, personnel, and skills to combat malaria. The new Intensifying the Fight against Malaria: The World Bank's Booster Program for Malaria Control in Africa takes the next step- building on lessons learned in the first three years, adapting to the markedly changed environment and expectations, and reconfirming the World Bank's unwavering commitment to helping end malaria's stranglehold on Africa.
The World Bank remains committed to the global malaria effort not only because it is a major public health issue, but also because it costs Africa about US$12 billion a year and helps to keep families and communities in poverty. Our mission to fight poverty demands that we help our clients remove this disease as a hindrance to their development. In its first three years (2006-08), the Booster Program committed over US$470 million to malaria control on the continent. Focusing on a two- pronged approach of combining disease control interventions and health systems strengthening, the program worked with countries and other partners to contribute significantly to the global effort to fight the disease.
Phase II (2009-2011) of the Booster Program will intensify and expand the Bank's efforts. On September 25, 2008, at the United Nations Special Session on the Millennium Development Goals, World Bank President, Robert B. Zoellick, announced a US$1.1 billion expansion of the program. The Phase II strategy establishes the rationale for our redoubled commitment. It is designed in a way that enables the World Bank to use its comparative advantage to contribute to the elimination of malaria in parts of Africa by 2015, a goal set by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and the United Nations Secretary General.
Malaria is both preventable and treatable. Major reductions in the deaths and illness it causes are possible within the next several years. Attacking the disease full- force with a front- loaded effort will have tremendous impact on health and economic outcomes. African nations and the global community are gearing up to meet the ambitious new goals. In line with its commitment to poverty reduction and development in Africa, the World Bank is called upon to play a leadership role in this effort. Phase II of the Booster Program for Malaria Control in Africa is the Bank's affirmative and emphatic response to this call.
Obiageli Ezekwesili
Vice President
Africa Region
The World Bank
Joy Phumaphi
Vice President
Human Development Network
The World Bank