A world free of polio is now in sight, said the Director-General if we can raise the remaining resources necessary to support this global effort. WHO and its partners are working to eradicate polio worldwide by the end of next year. There have been no confirmed cases of polio in the European Region since November 1998. Europe has used the strategies of mass immunization campaigns, mopping-up and surveillance with great success. Over the past few months, great progress has been made in the two largest remaining depositories of polio, southern Asia and central Africa.
Malaria is on the rise in all regions.
The goal of WHO's Roll Back Malaria initiative is to cut malaria-related mortality by half by the year 2010. Dr Brundtland noted that this goal can be achieved if health services become more focused on helping communities tackle priority diseases. WHO is working with many partners in new alliances such as the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria and Medicines for Malaria to develop the new interventions, preventive measures and treatments needed for long-term success. Blood safety is an absolutely key public health concern and a special priority for WHO, observed the Director-General. We will push for every deal that can make these innovations available for all - not least on this continent.