April 25, marks the first World Malaria Day (WMD).
It was established at the 60th World Health Assembly in March 2007 after member states of the World Health Organisation agreed that greater awareness on malaria was needed. It was also approved in recognition of the fact that the world health community recognises malaria as a global emergency that knows no boundaries.
WMD is aimed at providing education and understanding that malaria is a preventable and curable disease. It is also aimed at mobilising communities across the world to get involved in the fight.
It replaces the ‘Africa Malaria Day’ which was previously commemorated every year since 2001 on 25 April. It was a day set aside by African governments  committed to rolling back malaria and meeting the United Nations malaria-related Millennium Development Goals.  
Issues journalists can address

• Malaria is an entirely preventable disease but it is the leading cause of death for children in Africa, causing at least 18% of under five deaths.

• The media have an important role to raise awareness about this day and enlighten people on how malaria is prevented and cured.

• Journalists can raise awareness on the linkages between malaria and HIV infection as well as implications of dual infection of the two diseases. Recent studies in Kisimu Kenya, have shown that while malaria and HIV cause complications independently, dangers are compounded when both HIV and malaria occur together.

• It has been learnt that dual infection with malaria and HIV fuels the spread of both diseases. Infection with the malaria parasite causes a rise in viral load in HIV-infected people, while malaria is more frequent and severe among people infected with HIV. The interaction of the two diseases is also more significant when studied in pregnant women.

• Dual infection in pregnant women is associated with an increased risk of maternal, perinatal and early death compared to either disease alone. HIV-infected pregnant women have an increased incidence and severity of clinical malaria, while in children with HIV and malaria, anaemia is common and associated with increased mortality.

• It is therefore important that as the World commemorates the WMD, journalists inform people about the various prevention strategies so that informed decisions are made. The public needs to be informed that malaria can be prevented and it can be treated to combat the continued spread of both diseases.

SOURCES
1. http://www.rbm.who.int/worldmalariaday/
2. http://www.malariaconsortium.org/pages/about_malaria.html

3. http://www.mobilising4malaria.org/pages/en/world_malaria_day_2008.html

4. SAfAIDS News 3, Volume 13, 2007, (www.safaids.org.zw)