Buzzwords: The inside story of the malaria fight

Archive for November, 2008

Thankful

November 26th, 2008 | Posted by emily

Thank you for helping us keep up the fight against malaria!

Together we have made real progress towards stopping a disease that kills more than 3,000 children every day. We are proud of what you helped us accomplish so far and we hope you are too.

We wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season.

—The Team at Malaria No More

Thanks Kappa Delta!

November 25th, 2008 | Posted by emily

The Kappa Delta sorority at Baylor University is featured on the ONE Campaign’s Photo of the Week, as it takes on the ONE Campus Challenge and helps raise funds for Malaria No More.

Thanks, Bears!!

Go to www.one.org/campus to get involved!

Kicking it with FC Barcelona at Soccerex 2008

November 24th, 2008 | Posted by emily

Malaria No More is with FC Barcelona this week at SoccerEx in South Africa, the annual business convention for world soccer, where the global soccer community comes together to network and prepare for the World Cup in 2010.

Malaria No More and FC Barcelona gave a joint presentation entitled, “New Marketing for A New Era” and described the “More Than A Club: Kick it to Malaria” partnership between the world-famous soccer club and the non-profit.  MNM and FCB are working together to galvanize the soccer community to address the malaria crisis in Africa. FC Barcelona participated in a charity tournament in Manhattan in August 2008 and wore “Malaria No More” patches on their jerseys throughout the summer U.S. tour.

FC Barcleona is committed to raising awareness about malaria among global soccer fans as part of it philosophy of social responsibility.

Learn more about the presentation at Soccerex 2008 here.

Learn more about Malaria No More’s partnership with FC Barcelona at www.MoreThanAClub.org.

Global Fund Knocks our Socks Off

November 20th, 2008 | Posted by emily
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

Whoa.

Earlier this month, the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria approved $2.75 billion to fight these diseases in Round 8 of funding, a record amount. Even more incredible, the Board approved $1.57 billion for malaria alone—accounting for 51% of total funds approved and marking the first time that malaria funding has surpassed that of both HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

Not impressed yet?

This means that 68% of malaria proposals were approved (significantly more than the approval rate of proposals for the other diseases), showing the importance of ambitious and sophisticated plans. Learn more about Malaria No More’s work providing technical assistance to countries here.

Still no?

In Round 7, the biggest round for malaria funding at the time, $470 million was approved for malaria. In Rounds 5 & 6, just $220 million was approved. That’s a huge increase!

Not convinced?

Well then, I don’t know what it would take. Thanks to funding like this, we are on track to provide malaria prevention and treatment tools by the end of 2010 and end malaria deaths by 2015 as outlined in the Global Malaria Action Plan.

We still need your help to get us all the way there and with December 31, 2010 only 770 days away, we still have plenty of work to do!

Jack Takes On Malaria at 24 Premiere

November 19th, 2008 | Posted by emily
Kiefer and Malaria No More CEO Scott Case
Kiefer and Malaria No More CEO Scott Case

On Wednesday night, some lucky 24 fans and Malaria No More attended the premiere of “24: Redemption” and had the chance to meet with Kiefer Sutherland prior to the screening. Kiefer was fantastic and talked all about what he’d learned about malaria while filming on-location in South Africa and we were able to share information about malaria with the hundreds of people attending the sneak-peek in New York.

The movie was incredible—but we’re really looking forward to when it airs on Sunday and Kiefer’s Malaria No More PSA is broadcast to the millions of “24″ fans glued to their sets. This is a great way to raise awareness about malaria among a whole new audience. So be sure to tell your friends to catch “24: Redemption” on Sunday, Nov. 23 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX!

24 is all about the race against the clock—and we’re in a race against time to end malaria, which kills a child in Africa every 30 seconds.  Watch Kiefer’s PSA here.

Field Report: Partners in Tanzania

November 17th, 2008 | Posted by Christina Roberts
Arusha

Malaria No More staff members Christina Roberts and Martin Edlund are in Tanzania this week to discuss with partners on the ground how to best promote the effective use of mosquito nets.  This January, in partnership with MNM, Global Fund, World Bank, UNICEF and others, Tanzania begins an all-out effort to distribute 7.2 million long lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to every child under five by the end of 2009.

Martin and I are in Tanzania this week to explore ways that MNM can help reach, educate and activate Tanzanians to protect themselves from malaria by sleeping under a mosquito net.  Seeking new and innovative ways to enrich and expand current communications efforts, we’re taking every opportunity to visit with organizations and corporations in Tanzania who are either already engaged in the fight against malaria or are looking for a way to increase their efforts to help Tanzanians.

One such group is Barrick Mining.  Today, Martin and I took a two hour flight north to Barrick’s Bulyanhulu gold mining site.  We were greeted by a bright blue sky, though our hosts warned us that the rains come swiftly and often in this part of the country, creating ample breeding grounds for malaria carrying mosquitoes.  Over the past eight years, the Canadian-headquartered Barrick has set up four gold mining sites in Tanzania.  Not only does Barrick employ thousands of Tanzanians, but because so many employees live on the mining site, company policies greatly affect their health and well-being.  Fortunately for Tanzania, Barrick Mining is deeply committed to reducing the exhausting toll that malaria takes on its employees and their families.  An impressive malaria prevention and treatment program is already established and yielding strong results on site.  Employees sleep under mosquito nets, buildings are regularly sprayed with insecticide, and larviciding is routinely conducted where there is standing water.  ACTs, the first line treatment for malaria, is available in abundance to employees who contract malaria.

However, Barrick recognizes that there is more to be done.  Though malaria cases on site are way down (and productivity way up) from before the program was in place, the people in the surrounding communities are still falling prey to malaria.  Barrick Mining is looking for ways to extend its efforts beyond the mining site, and to set the standard for mining companies operating throughout Africa.  Over the coming weeks, MNM and Barrick will iron out the details of a new partnership that aims to save thousands more lives from malaria.

24 Fans: Fight Malaria with Jack Bauer

November 13th, 2008 | Posted by emily
Kiefer Sutherland

Who: You and Jack Bauer

What: Online auction to attend world premiere of “24: Redemption” and score a private meeting with Kiefer Sutherland

Where: AMC Empire 25 Theater, Times Square, NY

When: Wednesday, November 19th; Screening starts at 7pm; private meet-and-greet takes place prior to the screening

Why: Because if Jack Bauer met you, he’d totally want you to come on missions with him. And you’re helping to save lives from malaria just by showing up.

The world premiere of “24: Redemption” is offering 5 pairs of tickets through an online eBay auction to benefit Malaria No More.  Tickets include preferred seating and a half-hour VIP meet-and-greet with Kiefer Sutherland prior to the screening, where fans can take pictures, get autographs and ask him in person how Jack plans to bring evildoers to justice in the upcoming season. All proceeds will support Malaria No More’s work to end malaria deaths.
 
The 5 pairs of tickets are ready for bidding on eBay.

The more you bid, the more lives you help save. But remember: as in 24 and on eBay, the clock is ticking…

Idol Gives Back Announces $64 Million in Grants

November 12th, 2008 | Posted by emily
David Beckham receives Malaria No More's Idol Gives Back grant

American Idol’s 2008 charity special, “Idol Gives Back”, announced today that it raised $64 million for worthy causes, including Malaria No More.

Tens of millions of Americans watched the Emmy-winning program in April and learned how to join the fight against malaria by donating a simple $10 mosquito net that can save a life.

American Idol winner David Cook presented Malaria No More’s check, on behalf of “Idol Gives Back” and corporate sponsor ExxonMobil, to soccer superstar David Beckham. Beckam accepted the check on MNM’s behalf and thanked millions of Americans for their support.

See the video of the check presentation here.

Malaria No More CEO Scott Case said, ““By helping us provide life-saving mosquito nets, American Idol fans are helping mothers in Africa keep their children safe from malaria. The generosity of “Idol Gives Back” and ExxonMobil show that Americans refuse to accept preventable deaths. Together with the help of committed individuals and groups like these, we can make malaria no more.”

Additional beneficiaries included Children’s Defense Fund; Children’s Health Fund; The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Make It Right; and Save the Children. Read the press release for more details.

Malaria Awareness & High Fashion in L.A.

November 10th, 2008 | Posted by Lauren
David Cook and Kimberly Caldwell
© FamePictures

Spotted!

American Idol champ David Cook has brunch in L.A. with his main squeeze, former Idol finalist Kimberly Caldwell, as reported on the celebrity blog JustJared.com. The article discusses David’s career and relationship, but the most important piece of this story is shamefully overlooked: his t-shirt!

Take a gander at the oh-so-hip look the famous rocker is rocking. Distressed jeans and a casual vest set the tone, but it’s the t-shirt that makes the statement.

Get your Malaria No More gear at the Malaria No More store and all proceeds will go to Malaria No More.

Lauren is an intern at Malaria No More and a celebrity sleuth.

Ruxin’s Rwanda on PBS

November 6th, 2008 | Posted by emily

Our friend Josh Ruxin, a public health expert from Columbia University living in Rwanda, is featured in an upcoming video on PBS Frontline and sent us the rough cut of the film to check it out!

The video focuses on Mayange, a Millennium Village in Rwanda that was at the heart of the Rwandan genocide but is now making a remarkable comeback to tackle extreme poverty in its community.

Specifically, Mayange has made significant inroads against malaria—a cornerstone of all Millennium Villages. 340,000 mosquito nets have been distributed in the past four years and new cases of malaria in the village are rare.  Through mass distribution of nets and medicines, Rwanda has managed to cut malaria deaths by a whopping 66% in under a year!

Get a sneak peek at Josh’s star turn here and learn more about the Millennium Villages.