WORLD MALARIA DAY 2009

Early day motion 1291, tabled 20 April 2009 by Stephen O'Brien (Conservative). Signed by 137 members.

That this House notes World Malaria Day 2009 on 25 April 2009, which is being marked with events leading up to and on that day to raise awareness and to rally support for the effort globally to fight, control and ultimately eradicate malaria; calls on governments of malaria-endemic countries, donor country governments and international public and private organisations to work together to combat malaria worldwide; further notes that malaria occurs in more than 90 countries of the world, placing 40 per cent. of the world's population at risk, and that this preventable and curable disease kills a child every 30 seconds and is especially lethal to children under five and pregnant mothers; further notes that between one and three million people are killed every year by the disease; further notes the estimate that approximately 500 to 600 million people are infected each year, with the heaviest burden of malaria being in sub-Saharan Africa, but also afflicting the peoples of Asia, Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Europe; congratulates all those engaged in the global campaign against malaria and further notes a number of countries have reduced malaria deaths by 50 per cent. in the last five years as the resources and implementation of preventative measures and treatments have been scaled up; and further calls on the Government to maintain and enhance its international co-operation, collaboration and co-ordination of action towards the achievement of the UN 2010 and 2015 goals to end suffering and deaths from malaria, the world's most avoidable but devastating scourge.

Signatures by party: Labour 55, Liberal Democrat 35, Conservative 33, DUP 4, Independent 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.