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Supported by health care company Novartis, social media, mobile and e-commerce will be used in the campaign to “help close the treatment gap and accelerate progress in the fight against malaria”, the African Press Organization (APO) announced today.
Joseph Jimenez, chief executive officer at Novartis, said: “We believe that this innovative campaign will help speed malaria elimination.”
The project is open for participation to anyone through the website where the first 10,000 registrations will help the same amount of children receive malaria treatment.
The Power of One campaign is part of the Novartis Malaria Initiative, the largest of its kind worldwide, which aims to eliminate malaria.
A delivery count of 600 million artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) packages to more than 60 malaria-endemic countries, including 150 million malaria courses to children, has been reached, the health group announced.
In addition to its own mission, Novartis made a three-year commitment to support Power of One with three million full courses of pediatric anti-malaria medicine.
This contribution will double the number of publicly donated treatments to strengthen the project’s impact.
Despite malaria being a preventable disease, every minute a child dies because of it.
Linus Igwemezie, head at Novartis Malaria Initiative, said: “Malaria is a complex issue and needs a multi-pronged collaborative approach.”
Jimenez added: “No one should die from malaria today.”
Calling on the help of the public, the programme intends to elevate levels of eliminations by 2015 with the help of donations and government co-operation.
