UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon marked World Malaria Day with a call for realizing universal coverage to end malaria deaths by 2010, Xinhua reported. In a video message to mark World Malaria Day, Ban noted the "dramatic strides" made by several African countries in controlling malaria in recent years. "But the most affected nations remain off track to reach the goal of halting and reversing the incidence of the disease," he said. "As we pass the mid-point in the race towards the Millennium Development Goals, we desperately need to step up our efforts to roll back malaria." To this end, the secretary-general announced a "bold but achievable vision," which is to put a stop to malaria deaths by ensuring universal coverage by the end of 2010. "This initiative will offer indoor residual spraying, and bed nets treated with long-lasting insecticide, to all people at risk, especially women and children in Africa," he said. Malaria, a "disease without borders," is endemic in more than 100 countries and territories and kills more than one million people -- mostly children -- every year.
