Despite increased prevention and control measures “dramatically reducing the malaria burden in many places,” in 2010 an estimated 655,000 people died from the disease--most of them African children, according the latest Fact Sheet from the World Health Organization.

Malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25% globally since 2000, and by 33% in the WHO African Region, according to the World Malaria Report 2011, but in Africa one child still dies every minute from the disease, accounting for around 90% of all malaria mortality.

“Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria” is this year’s World Malaria Day Theme as international organizations and ministries of health race to meet the 2015 Millenium Development Goal 6: Halt and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.

Major efforts from USAID for preventing and treating malaria include:

• Insecticide-treated mosquito nets
• Indoor residual spraying
• Intermittent prevention treatment for pregnant women
• Lifesaving drugs