25/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 'Africa Malaria Day' (Wednesday 25 April), several MEPs attended a dinner debate in Strasbourg on how to turn hope into reality for all malaria patients in Africa. Drugs company Sanofi-Aventis unveiled its new, easy-to-use anti-malaria drug on the same day, which it will be selling at cost price (and has already been accepted by 20 countries in Africa). This was welcomed by MEPs from across the political divide, like Belgian Socialist Anne van Lancker, Italian GUE MEP Luisa Morgantini and French UDF MEP Thierry Cornillet. The latter pointed out, however, that the move would not actually develop more effective healthcare at local level. Former Senegalese health minister Awa-Marie Coll-Seck, now working for the NGO 'Roll Back Malaria Partnership', called for greater international aid for the distribution of medicines to widen access to anti-malaria treatments. (oj)