Malaria and AIDS: A Deadly Duo

AIDS and malaria are among the greatest medical, social, and economic challenges the world now faces, together taking more than 3 million lives per year. But you can help.

The impact on children

While AIDS is taking the lives of children at exponential rates, malaria is the leading cause of death for children in Africa. It accounts for one in five of all childhood deaths there. Sub-Saharan Africa remains hardest hit, accounting for approximately 90 percent of all malaria-related deaths.

Preventable, treatable

Malaria and AIDS are truly diseases of poverty, afflicting primarily the poorest populations. Both AIDS and malaria are preventable and treatable; yet many die because prevention and treatment tools are not readily available to the people who need them most.

HIV-infected people are among those most susceptible to malaria and most likely to die from it, as are children under 5 and pregnant women. And malaria has experienced a resurgence during the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

Fighting AIDS and malaria

Low-cost, simple interventions such as bed nets, spraying, and community education save lives.

To help, World Vision:

works with corporate partners to procure bed nets, medications, health supplies, and other tools to fight the spread of malaria.
staff, in partnership with local community and church leaders, regularly visit households where there are vulnerable children and/or people are living with HIV and AIDS or other illnesses, like malaria.
volunteers in America have already assembled more than 100,000 Caregiver Kits that contain basic supplies that enable caregivers to serve their patients while protecting themselves from infection.

The Global AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Bill

America has established strong leadership in the global fight against AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. In 2003, through the Global AIDS, TB and Malaria Bill, Congress funded the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest international health initiative dedicated to a specific disease — now representing a commitment of approximately $6 billion per year for AIDS prevention, treatment, and care.

Authorization for PEPFAR expires on Sept. 30, 2008. In order to continue and increase the U.S. contribution to the global AIDS and malaria fight, we are asking Congress to take action swiftly to pass this bipartisan legislation. We specifically ask Congress to:

Support the dedication of at least 10 percent of the budget to be directed toward care for orphans and other vulnerable children.
Support a designation of $5 billion for malaria out of the $50 billion authorized in the legislation.

Learn more

>> Check out the Rollback Malaria fact sheet (pdf) to learn more about malaria.
>> Dig deeper. See reports and resources on the AIDS crisis.

Get involved

>>Pray for the tens of millions of children whose lives have been affected by AIDS and malaria. Pray that our legislators will make decisions that put children first.
>> Ask Congress to swiftly reauthorize the AIDS, TB and Malaria Bill and ensure that care for children is prioritized.
>> Visit World Vision Experience: AIDS in the Chicago area.
>> Sponsor a HopeChild in an AIDS-affected country.

World Vision in Chicago
5001 W. Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60644
p.773.921.3900
f.773.921.3953

Take Action for children affected by AIDS and malaria

Send a message to Illinois members of Congress.

Ask them to swiftly reauthorize the Global AIDS, TB and Malaria Bill to ensure that children are not left behind in the fight against malaria and AIDS.

Our goal is to collect 15,000 signatures before April 20. Help us reach this goal!

� 2008 World Vision Inc.

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