On 25th of April, the Swiss Tropical Institute commemorated the 1st World Malaria Day with a press conference and a “malaria-tram” in Basel. The aim was to remind the Swiss public about the ongoing suffering caused by malaria and to demonstrate at the same time how Swiss malaria control activities help to reduce the burden of malaria in endemic countries. The event was organised on behalf of the Swiss Malaria Group (SMG), which made its first official appearance on that day. The SMG partners are the STI, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development, Novartis, Mepha, Syngenta, the Swiss Red Cross, Medicines for Malaria Venture, Roll Back Malaria and Solidarmed. Together, the SMG partners have an impressive range of competences along the lines of innovation, validation of new approaches and their application in the field. Apart from its own malaria activities, the SMG also wants to encourage official Swiss bodies to increase their contributions to organizations committed to fighting malaria, as explained in the SMG statement which was presented during the press conference. link to pdf
In the city of Basel, the “malaria-tram” informed the interested public about malaria and malaria control activities. While riding the tram for free, passengers had the opportunity to talk to STI malaria specialists, enjoy a virtual microscope and see live, malaria-transmitting mosquitoes. In addition, physicians from the STI provided useful travel advice. For those who did not have the opportunity to hop on the tram, a newspaper supplement in the Basler Zeitung and the Tagesanzeiger summarised the most important malaria activities of the Basel-based SMG organisations.
link to pdf (in german only)
Numerous people were attracted by the eye-catching malaria tram and several newspapers and other media reported about the World Malaria Day event in Basel. If our efforts were really successful, this raised awareness would now translate into increased financial and political commitment to fight malaria worldwide. With everybody joining forces, more than one million lives could be saved every year.
Dr. Manuel Hetzel
The photos show some impressions from the press conference and the "malaria tram" (click to enlarge)
