The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies welcomes this opportunity to address the 61st session of the World Health Assembly and this agenda item, achievement of the health-related Millennium Development Goals.

As we pass the mid-point in the global effort to reach the 2015 MDG’s the World Health Assembly provides an opportunity to reflect on our collective successes to date and recognize the challenges we face in reaching these targets.

Working in partnership in the fields of measles, water and sanitation, HIV, TB, blood, First Aid, polio, and malaria, the actions of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers have contributed to measurable improvements in the lives of vulnerable populations.

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the Red Cross and Red Crescent malaria activities and their contribution to the health-related MDG’s.

Since 2002 the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has worked in partnership to distribute more than 12 million Long-Lasting Insecticide Treated nets in malaria endemic countries.
Our volunteers' action does not end with net distribution but continues with post distribution activities to achieve and sustain high net usage.

All mass net distributions are followed up by immediate ‘Hang Up’ activities where volunteers go door-to-door and ensure that nets are properly hung and that children under five and pregnant women sleeping under them.

In addition to Hang Up activities, Keep Up activities are multi-year follow-up programs that promote net use, completion of childhood vaccination routines, and attendance at anti-natal care clinics.

Preliminary results from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Net Coverage and Usage survey conducted in Sierra Leone following a countrywide Red Cross distribution of 875,000 LLINs, show a 23 % increase in net usage following a single visit by a community-based volunteer promoting net hanging and usage.

Results from a recent net Coverage and Usage survey in Madagascar following that countries mass net distribution at the end of 2007 show that 91% of LLINs were hanging, 81% of children under 5 slept the previous night under an LLIN, and near perfect equity across wealth quintiles.

These impressive results show the valuable contribution of community based volunteers and the power of health partnership.

I respectfully ask that all governments engage their National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and voluntary network as one important aspect of health partnerships.

It is by mobilizing the power of humanity, the power of partnership, that our collective actions will contribute to the achievement of the MDG’s.