Malaria drops from first to third cause of infant mortality in Africa, RBM executive director says

"Over the past three years, malaria passed from first to third cause of infant mortality in Africa, Awa Coll-Seck, executive director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership [RBM], said Tuesday in Paris," Afrique en ligne reports. "'At least 1.5 million children were saved from the disease in recent years, thanks to the successful implementation of national strategies, supported by the international community,' she said," in an interview with [the Pan African News Agency (PANA)], according to the news service.

"According to Coll-Seck, all African countries made headways in combating malaria," Afrique en ligne writes, adding, "In a report released last November, [RBM] indicated that 11 African countries, including Botswana, Equatorial Guinea and Zanzibar, have reduced by 30 percent malaria-related deaths" (10/12).