Two ladies from Kansas (originally from Ethiopia & Malawi) were on Capitol Hill on March 12, 2024 advocating for continued funding for malaria interventions, on the last day of a three-day Summit in Washington DC, hosted by a UN Foundation, United to Beat Malaria. The ladies represented communities in developing countries (especially those in Sub Saharan Africa) who are affected by the disease, especially children. Children are the most at risk of dying from the disease. 76% of those affected are children.
Quick facts that came out during the Summit:
In 2022, there were 249 Million malaria cases and over 600,000 deaths globally.
USA was able to eradicate Malaria in only 5 years. Efforts to fight malaria disease started in 1946 after World War II. In 1951 malaria was eradicated.Â
In 2024, Belize (in Central America) and Cabo Verde (in West Africa) became 2nd and 3rd respectively, in their regions to be certified malaria-free. So, a malaria free World is possible.
For every US$1 investment on malaria intervention there is a US$36 return in social and economic benefits. These interventions are also cost effective because funded facilities like labs help in diagnosis of other diseases thereby allowing timely treatments and saving lives.Â
US government is the biggest donor of global health and this is possible because of bipartisan support for the funding. This is very much appreciated.Â
Malaria is a National security issue because when men and women in uniform get deployed to areas that have malaria, they get exposed and sometimes get sick.Â
#USPresident’sMalariaInitiative(PMI)
