On April 30th, the United States Senate introduced and passed the 2015 World Malaria Day Resolution. This important resolution commemorating World Malaria Day reaffirms U.S. support for vital malaria programs such as the President’s Malaria Initiative, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the important programs at the Department of Defense and the Centers for Disease Control and others contributing to the fight against malaria.
The resolution, which also highlights the important successes and challenges we face in ending this treatable and preventable disease, was lead by Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), who is the Co-Chair of the Senate Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Caucus, along with Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), who also Co-Chairs the caucus.
S.RES. 165 was cosponsored by 10 original cosponsors. Malaria No More is thankful for the leadership of Co-Chairs Wicker and Coons, along with that of Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Richard Durbin (D-IL), James Inhofe (R-OK), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) who cosponsored the resolution, along with the rest of the United States Senate that approved the measure on the heels of World Malaria Day, April 25, 2015.
Despite being treatable and preventable, malaria remains the leading cause of death and disease in many developing countries. Despite an overall reduction of close to 50% in malaria globally, in 2014, transmission of malaria occurred in 97 countries. Reducing malaria deaths helps to save lives, and ensure countries are able to be productive, which helps to reduce the risk of instability in less developed nations, and advances U.S. diplomacy. It is also in the national security interest of the United States as efforts to treat and prevent the disease ensures our brave-service members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving overseas in malaria-endemic regions are well protected. Finally, savings lives from malaria helps countries to help themselves out of poverty and advances economic growth, which further reduces the need for future assistance, and helps to develop future trading partners and allies.
Malaria No More is thankful for the important leadership of the Congress, and looks forward to working with them in helping to eliminate this global health threat.
View the Senators’ press release on the passage of the Resolution
