Malaria is one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases, transmitted by mosquitoes, which kills an average of over 400,000 people annually, with over 90 per cent of the figure recorded in Africa. CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, said: “Malaria does not stop devastating lives during health emergencies and still kills a child every two minutes. Indeed, experiences from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa show it can resurge in times of crisis with immediate and deadly consequences. COVID-19 has exposed weaknesses in health systems around the world and, with lives at risk and resources increasingly stretched, long-term malaria investment alongside short-term COVID-19 response is essential, smart, and cost-effective.”The Bigger Picture campaign, which was launched yesterday, featured Eliud Kipchoge, Siya Kolisi, Saray Khumalo, Luis Figo, and Seun Adigun. The stars film themselves wearing a face mask whilst talking about the vital importance of tackling malaria and saving more lives during the pandemic, creating a striking image of both COVID-19 and malaria together, a visual representation of seeing the Bigger Picture.

Source: The Guardian August 22, 2020 05:15 UTC