Malaria is one of the most serious and complex health problems facing humanity.

Approximately 300 million of the world’s people are infected by the disease and between 1 and 1.5 million people die from it every year. The vast majority of deaths occur among young children.

Malaria kills one child every 30 seconds

In absolute numbers, malaria kills 3 000 children per day under five years of age. It is a death toll that far exceeds the mortality rate from AIDS. In many developing countries, and in Africa especially, malaria exacts an enormous toll in lives, in medical costs, and in days of labour lost.

Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Four species of Plasmodium can produce the disease in its various forms - P.falciparum, P.vivax, P.ovale and P.malariae. P.falciparum is the most widespread and dangerous of the four: untreated it can lead to fatal cerebral malaria.

Malaria is a curable disease if promptly diagnosed and adequately treated