Washington, D.C., December 6, 2021— Malaria No More CEO Martin Edlund issued the following statement on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2021 World Malaria Report:
This year’s World Malaria Report provides a revised methodology and more accurate picture of the world-wide malaria burden – as well as the historic progress that has been achieved in the last two decades. Revised statistics indicate that since 2000, 10.6 million lives have been saved and 1.7 billion malaria cases prevented. But still, malaria accounts for 1 in 12 deaths in children under 5 globally, and progress has been disrupted by COVID-19.
These new statistics underscore the urgency of responding to malaria, humanity’s first pandemic – particularly for Africa’s children. Now is the time to double down on proven tools and systems, and to commit to accelerating innovation to end this disease within our generation.
Fighting malaria and fighting COVID-19 go hand-in-hand – both diseases present as fevers – and U.S. leadership is needed now more than ever. We urge the Biden Administration and the U.S. Congress to increase appropriations for the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and continue its strong, bipartisan support of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Leveraging the strengths of these established platforms is the fastest and most cost-effective way to end malaria, defeat COVID-19, and prevent the next pandemic.
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For more information or interview requests, please contact Jennie Bragg at jennie.bragg@malarianomore.org.
About Malaria No More
Malaria No More envisions a world where no one dies from a mosquito bite. Fifteen years 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.
