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2,000 child deaths a day | A campaign to end malaria | What is the U.S. doing?
Five things you can do


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2,000 child deaths a day

Malaria is one of the leading causes of death for children under 5 in the developing world, responsible for nearly 2,000 child deaths a day, or 1 every 40 seconds. Transmitted by a mosquito, this disease kills an estimated 860,000 people each year. An estimated 85 are children. (1)

Africa is hit the hardest by malaria — 90 percent of malaria deaths occur there. The disease threatens half of the world’s population and an estimated 250 million individuals become infected each year. (1) It afflicts primarily the poorest populations who tend to live in malaria-prone areas. According to the World Food Programme, 57 percent of malaria deaths are attributable to under-nutrition. (2)

Malaria is preventable and treatable. But many die because prevention and treatment tools are not readily available to the people who need them most.

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A campaign to end malaria

In June 2008, World Vision launched a major initiative to reduce the illness and death caused by malaria. World Vision aims to contribute to a 75 percent reduction in malaria cases, with the end goal of nearly zero preventable malaria deaths by 2015. This will be achieved by:

  • Extensively distributing long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets
  • Advocating that the U.S. government increased funding for malaria to at least $1 billion per year
  • Developing corporate partnerships to leverage resources like bed nets and medication
  • Increasing World Vision's private income for malaria programs
  • Strengthening and expanding a public movement in the United States to eradicate global malaria

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    What is the U.S. doing?

    In June 2005, President Bush launched the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), a $1.2 billion, five-year program to reduce malaria-related deaths by 50 percent in 15 African countries. In 2008, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law legislation committing to $5 billion over 5 years for malaria programs.

    Using low-cost interventions, PMI has been highly successful. As a result of PMI and other global efforts, there is now an entire cohort of children who lack immunity to malaria and could be threatened if funding remains inadequate.

    Despite the grave threat to the lives of children worldwide, the recent funding promises have not been fulfilled. In order to display leadership and commitment to averting a leading cause of child deaths globally, the United States must:

    1. Increase the U.S. government's financial contribution to fight malaria to at least $1 billion in FY 2011 for a total of $5 billion over five years and support U.S. contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
    2. Fulfill the commitment to provide $48 billion over the next five years for HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
    3. Support the Global Child Survival Act (Senate) and Newborn, Child and Mother Survival Act (House), nearly identical bills would enhance U.S. efforts to address leading causes of child death, including malaria.


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    Six things you can do

    • Check our our resource page to find videos, posters and more.
    • Request a copy of our malaria video "Africa's deadliest predator".
    • Please pray with us. Pray for wisdom for decision-makers Request a copy of our malaria video "Africa's deadliest predator" who have the power to increase resources to fight this killer of children. Pray for health and fullness of life for those vulnerable to malaria. Pray for the collective will to eliminate malaria, once and for all.
    • Send a message to your members of Congress. Ask them to increase our contribution to the fight against malaria.
    • Donate now to provide bed nets for children. You can make a one-time gift, or pledge to give monthly.
    • Host an Night of Nets event to inform and involve your community in this cause in a fun way.


    Sources
    1. WHO, World Malaria Report, 2009

    2. WFP World Hunger Series, 2007

    • Five things you can do

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    Facebook users: Join our End Malaria group

    Check out our resource page where you can find videos, posters and more.
    Press contact
    Rachel Wolff
    253.394.2214
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