Washington, DC, September 20, 2024 – Yesterday, Malaria No More hosted its annual Malaria Champions Breakfast on Capitol Hill, focused on ‘renewing US leadership to end malaria’ and honoring the individuals and institutions whose leadership and commitment have contributed to incredible progress in saving millions of lives from malaria.
Thanks to bipartisan support from Congress and the Administration, the United States continues to serve as the world’s largest donor to global health, providing $1.65 billion in Fiscal Year 2024 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, as well as $795 million to the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), funding critical to putting the world on a path to eradicating malaria.
The program included remarks from Senator Chris Coons, Co-Chair of the Senate Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases; Rep. Gregory Meeks, outgoing Co-Chair of the House Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases; Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA); Dr. David Walton, the U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator; Ambassador Mark Green, President and CEO of the Wilson Center and former Managing Director of Malaria No More; Carol Spahn, the Director of the Peace Corps; and Florizelle Liser, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA).
“I am proud that the U.S. has led the fight against malaria, but our work is far from over,” said Senator Coons (D-DE), Co-Chair of the Senate Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. “Congress must keep investing in research, treatment, and prevention options to finally eradicate this deadly disease. As we prepare to mark the 20th anniversary of the President’s Malaria Initiative next year, I promise to do all I can to continue spearheading bipartisan efforts to combat malaria.”
Recognized for their contributions were several congressional champions who were awarded the Malaria Vision Award, including Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), who co-chaired the House Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases since 2015, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), a longtime malaria champion who serves as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds PMI and the US contributions to the Global Fund and Gavi. Malaria No More CEO Martin Edlund also warmly welcomed the new incoming Co-Chair of the House Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA).
“I am honored to receive the Malaria Vision Award from Malaria No More and proud that the United States is continuing its leadership in the global fight against malaria,” said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA). “Robust and increased commitments to the Global Fund and the President’s Malaria Initiative are critical for not only building on the hard-fought gains we have made together toward ending malaria once and for all but also for continuing to strengthen global health systems.”
Despite collective efforts, malaria remains a serious global health challenge that takes its heaviest toll on the most vulnerable. Young children living in the poorest households in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected by the disease, while pregnant women, refugees, migrants, internally displaced people and Indigenous people are among the other groups at higher risk of contracting malaria.
“We take this moment to celebrate the incredible progress being made today against malaria and toward finally ending this disease,” said Dr. David Walton, U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator. “Yet, with rising challenges to malaria control and elimination, such as drug resistance, climate shocks and changing weather patterns, and the spread of the Anopheles stephensi mosquito, these commitments are more critical than ever, as our hard-fought gains are now at risk.”
”As a partner in the President’s Malaria Initiative, Peace Corps Volunteers proudly support innovative malaria programs with communities across Africa," said Carol Spahn, Director of the Peace Corps. "With a growing number of vaccines making their way into countries across the continent, we now see a new path to a malaria-free world. The Peace Corps is committed to working in solidarity at the grassroots level to make this vision a reality.”
“Over the past two decades, US-led anti-malarial efforts through the President’s Malaria Initiative and the Global Fund have saved millions of lives, giving millions of people the chance at a better future and building critical diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the US and our partner countries,” said Ambassador Mark Green, President and CEO of the Wilson Center and former Managing Director of Malaria No More. “As we work toward finally eliminating this disease, we must double down on our collective efforts to build a healthier future.”
“Malaria exacts an enormous toll on families, communities, and economies across Africa,” said Florizelle Liser, President and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA). “African countries are dynamic, youthful, and rapidly growing, presenting enormous opportunities for growth and partnership. But endemic diseases are a constant threat to growth and progress, keeping parents out of work, children out of school, and creating a persistent economic headwind working against African businesses and leaders. US leadership and partnership with public and private sector leaders across the continent is critical to ending the scourge of malaria and unlocking economic growth.”
“Today, we celebrate the individuals and institutions whose leadership and commitment have contributed to dramatic progress toward elimination of this deadly, yet preventable and treatable disease,” said Martin Edlund, CEO of Malaria No More. “Drug and insecticide resistance make eliminating malaria harder, but thanks to U.S. leadership the solutions are getting better. The time to invest is now.”
Explore more photos from the Malaria Champions Breakfast 2024 here or for interview requests, please contact Mindy Mizell at mindy.mizell@malarianomore.org.
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About Malaria No More
Malaria no More envisions a world where no one dies from a mosquito bite. More than a decade into our mission, our work has contributed to historic progress toward this goal. Now, we’re mobilizing the political commitment, funding, and innovation required to achieve what would be one of the greatest humanitarian accomplishments – ending malaria within our generation. For more information, visit www.malarianomore.org
