¡¡JOHANNESBURG, April 4 (Xinhuanet) -- The World Health Organization(WHO) will launch a new Africa Malaria Day campaign on April 25 and has appealed leaders of southern African countries to support the campaign to free the region of malaria.

    "At the regional level, political leaders and malaria stakeholders are invited to support and participate in the launch of the Africa Malaria Day (AMD) campaign on April 25 in Lusaka, Zambia," the WHO said in a statement on Monday.

    The aims for Africa Malaria Day were to mobilize communities totake steps in preventing, treating and controlling the disease andto highlight the role of partners in the battle against malaria.

    The organization called upon malaria stakeholders to support the planning and implementation of the AMD campaign, which would use the slogan "Together we can all beat malaria."

    Malaria, a preventable and curable disease, is however a major cause of death in southern Africa with about 63 percent of its population living in malaria areas.

    About 300,000 deaths occur annually due to the disease, said a report of the South African Press Association.

    To highlight the gravity of the situation in Africa, heads of state and government made a declaration in April 2000 to commemorate Africa Malaria Day every year on April 25.

    "In line with this Abuja Declaration, countries of the region have held annual commemorations of the AMD. The commemoration of AMD this year is important in that it marks the review for the midterm Abuja targets," the WHO said. Enditem