Speaking at the launch of the Princess of Africa Foundation (Paf), a partnership with the World Bank, which aims to improve transparency and accountability in the use of funds dedicated to fighting malaria on the continent, he said that some 500-million people are infected by malaria every year, of which 300-million die.
“We need $3,2-billion a year to fight malaria, and we only had $600-million a year up to 2005,” Da Gama stated. “That leaves a gap of $2,6-billion dollars.”
This needs to be narrowed with help from the international community, he stressed.
He went on to highlight that some 3,2-billion people are at risk of contracting malaria, which represents 40% of the world’s population, in 107 countries.
The economic cost of the disease was estimated at an “enormous” $12-billion a year.
The biggest problem in combating malaria was ensuring that the poorest of the poor had the necessary tools, Da Gama stressed.
The launch was attended by World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz.
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