From ROBIN ANDERS
Phyllida Brown in her ‘Gloomy prognosis for malaria summit’ (This Week,
24 October) quotes me as saying ‘It’ll be even worse than Rio’. I have no
recollection making that statement and I wish to make it clear that when
talked to I had no detailed knowledge of the WHO’s Amsterdam summit meeting,
I had not read the draft strategy to be considered at the meeting and I
was in no position to judge whether the summit would be better or ‘worse
than Rio’. I wish to point out that I supported the summit, as I do any
activity that increases public awareness of malaria and attempts to generate
the political will and financial support that is required to control this
disease, which is one of the world’s most serious public health problems.
It has been my privilege for the last six years to serve on a WHO committee
which is overseeing malaria vaccine development. I think it is of utmost
importance that everyone with an interest in reducing the burden of ill-health
throughout the world, and particularly in the populations of tropical developing
countries where malaria is of major concern, should provide their wholehearted
(including financial) support for the important work of WHO.
Robin Anders The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Melbourne, Australia
