RIYADH: A Belgian princess who visited Riyadh earlier this week sought the Kingdom’s help in the global fight against malaria.
Princess Astrid of Belgium, daughter of Albert II and special representative of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM), visited Riyadh as part of her Gulf tour. The princess made the request during a meeting with Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.
The princess is touring the region to gain support for the Global Malaria Action Plan (GMAP). GMAP aims to foster agreement among malaria organizations on goals, strategies, and activities to be achieved by 2010 and 2015.
Princess Astrid has been RBM special representative for two years and has previously visited several African countries to battle against malaria. She has also been involved in malaria research centers, and malaria treatment and vaccine manufacturing companies in Europe. Her first engagement as special representative this year includes visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, and participation in World Malaria Day activities on April 25.
During the talks with Al-Rabeeah, the princess indicated that her organization is amazed to see the Kingdom’s performance in controlling the disease within a period of 10 years. “We came to learn of the success stories of the Kingdom, and wish to exchange experiences between the two parties,” Princess Astrid said.
She also requested the Ministry of Health to extend its cooperation in training and research in the fight against malaria, which kills more than three million people each year. Malaria kills 3,000 children a day in Africa, she said, adding that it could be prevented and treated through early diagnosis.
“It is now time for the international community to do everything possible in order to achieve the targets for 2010 and 2015,” she said.
On his part, Al-Rabeeah pledged the Kingdom’s support in the global fight against malaria. He recalled that a national campaign against malaria was launched in 1998, which identified 36,139 malaria-infected patients. “In 2008, the number came down to 61 persons, which was a great achievement on the part of the Kingdom,” he said.
“We had carried out intensive programs in the southern borders of the Kingdom near Yemen and the project covered both nationals and expatriates,” he said, adding that discussions also focused on mutual areas between the Kingdom and Belgium.
Princess Astrid also met Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf to explore the means of cooperating in the fight against the illness.
RBM was launched in 1998 by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Development Fund, and the World Bank to provide a coordinated approach in the global fight against malaria.
RBM is the global public-private partnership on worldwide malaria control and elimination. World Malaria Day will be marked on May 25.
Malaria kills between one and three million people and infects 300-500 million people each year. It is the leading cause of death among sub-Saharan African children under the age of five.
In addition to its human toll, malaria costs Africa $12 billion a year and up to 40 percent of government health spending.
