World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day (WMD) is commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria. In 2012, malaria caused an estimated 627,000 deaths, mostly among African children. Asia, Latin America, and to a lesser extent the Middle East and parts of Europe are also affected.

World Malaria Day sprung out of the efforts taking place across the African continent to commemorate Africa Malaria Day. WMD is one of eight official global public health campaigns currently marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Hepatitis Day and World AIDS Day.

History
World Malaria Day was established in May 2007 by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, WHO's decision-making body. The day was established to provide "education and understanding of malaria" and spread information on "year-long intensified implementation of national malaria-control strategies, including community-based activities for malaria prevention and treatment in endemic areas."

Prior to the establishment of WMD, Africa Malaria Day was held on April 25. Africa Malaria Day began in 2001, one year after the historic Abuja Declaration was signed by 44 malaria-endemic countries at the African Summit on Malaria.

World Malaria Day allows for corporations (such as Exxon Mobile ), multinational organizations (such as Malaria No More ) and grassroots organizations (such as Mosquitoes Suck Tour ) globally to work together to bring awareness to malaria and advocate for policy changes.

Themes
Each World Malaria Day focuses on a specific theme. Current and past themes include the following:


 * World Malaria Day 2013-2014-2015 - "Invest in the future: defeat malaria"
 * World Malaria Day 2012 - "Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria"
 * World Malaria Day 2011 - "Achieving Progress and Impact"
 * World Malaria Day 2009-2010 - "Counting malaria out"
 * World Malaria Day 2008 - "Malaria: a disease without borders"