Speech of Ms. Zsuzsanna Jakab
Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization
on the International Forum on the 50th Anniversary of the Discovery of Artemisinin and on Building a Global Community of Health for All

Speech of Ms. Zsuzsanna Jakab

Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization

on the International Forum on the 50th Anniversary of the Discovery of Artemisinin and on Building a Global Community of Health for All

April 25th, 2022

This year, on World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization is shining a spotlight on the vital role of innovation in global efforts to combat this deadly disease.

If you want to protect the millions of people who are still vulnerable to malaria, we need to step up investments in the research and development of new tools to prevent infection and save lives.

For decades, China has made important contributions to the fight against this mosquito-borne killer.

In 1967, its government launched a nation-wide research programme aimed at finding new treatment for malaria. This led to the discovery of artemisinin in 1972. It is the core compound of the most effective antimalarial medicines we have today.

50 years later, we commemorate this remarkable discovery that has saved millions of lives.

I would also like to congratulate China on its recent malaria-free certification.

Sadly, too many people around the world continue to die from the disease, with Sub-Saharan Africa carrying the heaviest burden. 

On a global scale, progress against malaria has leveled off in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has posed an added challenge for efforts to control the disease. 

Urgent and decisive action is needed to set the world back on a path towards achieving critical targets of the WHO global malaria strategy. 

I thank you.