The Holy See acknowledged efforts, particularly by African leaders, to combat malaria in the continent, and underlined the need to eradicate the disease altogether.
Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, permanent observer of the Holy See at the United Nations, made this statement at the U.N. General Assembly in a meeting on the new economic partnership for Africa’s development.
The meeting focused particularly in the progress made since 2001 in the Decade to Roll Back Malaria in developing countries, particularly in Africa.
The Holy See delegate affirmed that he was pleased to see the progress made over the last decade to control malaria.
Archbishop Chullikatt said the Vatican was heartened by the commitment of the members of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance to work together in order to translate their commitment into greater efforts to eradicate the disease.
The prelate noted that malaria takes the lives of nearly one million people each year, and almost 90 percent of its victims are Africans.