This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6178473.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
White House hosts malaria summit Bush expands US malaria programme
(about 10 hours later)
Global measures to combat malaria are set to be discussed at a summit held at the White House in Washington. President George W Bush has said eight more African countries have joined a $1.2bn US programme to fight malaria.
The summit comes a day after the World Bank announced it would lend $180m (£92m) to help African countries - especially Nigeria - fight the disease. At a malaria summit in Washington, Mr Bush said 23 countries were now involved in the five-year programme he launched last year.
US President George W Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be speaking. Malaria is a preventable disease that kills more than a million people every year, 90% of them in Africa, most of them children.
Malaria is preventable, but still claims more than a million lives a year - mostly among children in Africa. On Wednesday, the World Bank pledged $180m (£92m) to help fight the disease.
'Turning point' 'Challenging goal'
Thursday's summit will attempt to give momentum to the drive to eradicate the disease altogether. The President's Malaria Initiative aims to provide funds to limit the spread of malaria using insecticides and anti-mosquito bed nets, and to provide drugs for people who have been infected.
Anita McBride, chief-of-staff of First Lady Laura Bush, who will also address the summit, said the meeting would "jump-start the effort to educate the American public about malaria".
Last year President Bush announced more than $1bn in aid as part of a five-year US initiative to halve malaria-related deaths in 15 African countries which are worst hit by the illness.
MALARIA Parasites that cause malaria are carried from human to human by mosquitoKills more than a million people a year90% of malaria deaths are in AfricaMalaria is Africa's leading cause of death for children under five Malaria global menaceMALARIA Parasites that cause malaria are carried from human to human by mosquitoKills more than a million people a year90% of malaria deaths are in AfricaMalaria is Africa's leading cause of death for children under five Malaria global menace
The latest summit aims to go further by mobilising the charitable resources of the US public to donate money on an even bigger scale, says the BBC's James Westhead in Washington. "The goal of defeating malaria is a challenging goal," Mr Bush told government leaders, officials and malaria activists gathered at the White House.
Political and business leaders will discuss with experts a range of initiatives such as providing millions of specially treated mosquito nets to Africans through an organisation called Malaria No More. "We know exactly what it takes to prevent and treat the disease. The only question is whether we have the will to act."
Its chief executive, John Bridgeland, argues the world is at a turning point. Last year President Bush announced more than $1bn in aid as part of a five-year US initiative to halve malaria-related deaths in 15 African countries which are worst hit by the illness.
"The last generation wiped out smallpox, and largely wiped out polio in the world, and I know that in our generation, malaria will be the disease we conquer on this planet." The White House summit aims to go further by mobilising the huge charitable resources of the American public, says the BBC's Nick Miles in Washington.
Mr Bush also said he would double US development aid to Africa by 2010.
Other anti-malaria campaigns have failed in the past.Other anti-malaria campaigns have failed in the past.
But this time big business including the billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is getting involved.But this time big business including the billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is getting involved.
This, combined with recent scientific advances - such as progress towards a vaccine - holds out the best hope yet for defeating one of the world's great killers, our correspondent says.This, combined with recent scientific advances - such as progress towards a vaccine - holds out the best hope yet for defeating one of the world's great killers, our correspondent says.
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said its new funding - which doubles the bank's previous anti-malaria assistance - needed to be well co-ordinated and monitored to ensure its effectiveness.World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said its new funding - which doubles the bank's previous anti-malaria assistance - needed to be well co-ordinated and monitored to ensure its effectiveness.
Nigerian Health Minister Eyitayo Lambo said malaria was the leading cause of illness and death in the country.Nigerian Health Minister Eyitayo Lambo said malaria was the leading cause of illness and death in the country.