Washington, DC (PRWEB) December 17, 2009 –

According to the World Health Organization’s World Malaria Report 2009 released earlier this week, more than one third of affected countries included in the study have witnessed reduction in malaria cases by more than 50 percent between 2000 and 2008. The report, which compiles information gathered from malaria programs in 108 countries, highlights considerable progress in the fight against malaria since the turn of the decade.

These improvements are attributed to a vast increase in international funding for malaria efforts over the past four years, which more than doubled from $730 million to $1.7 billion. However, malaria advocates in Washington cautioned that unless funding continues to increase, programs will fall well short of 2010 targets for universal coverage with insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in 2015. According to the Global Malaria Action Plan, $6.2 billion is needed in 2010 alone to fully fund the package of malaria interventions necessary to meet the Roll Back Malaria goals that will save the lives of mothers and children worldwide.

“Malaria is one of the best investments we have in global health,” said Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer, the U.S. Malaria Coordinator. “We must build on successes we have seen in places like Rwanda, Zambia and Zanzibar.