February 7, 2025 (Washington, DC) – Malaria No More CEO Martin Edlund issued the following statement upon the release of a waiver from the U.S. Department of State for critical malaria services to resume:
U.S. efforts to end malaria make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Malaria No More is grateful to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for recognizing the need to resume lifesaving prevention, testing, and treatment for malaria.
The waiver, issued by the State Department for Emergency Humanitarian Assistance, is an important step toward getting malaria medicines to millions of people who urgently need them— mostly young children and pregnant women— across sub-Saharan Africa.
Even short-term interruptions of malaria prevention and treatment lead to outbreaks and deaths. Without a waiver from the State Department, the 90-day freeze on foreign assistance would have prevented the delivery of 15.6 million doses of lifesaving drugs, 25.3 million rapid diagnostic tests for malaria and 9 million insecticide treated mosquito nets.
We urge the State Department to communicate a start-work order to all programs to begin indoor spraying, net distribution, as well as testing and treatment for malaria.
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