Washington, DC, May 1, 2024 – Leaders from Congress and the Administration joined Malaria No More and members of the Malaria Roundtable, along with more than a hundred Congressional staff members, representatives from African embassies, and community members to commemorate World Malaria Day at a reception on Capitol Hill.
This year’s reception, entitled “Progress and Possibilities for Malaria Elimination,” focused on the historic gains and innovation in malaria, including the scientific, medical, and technological breakthroughs that are equipping the global health community to not only save lives but to unlock immeasurable human and economic potential.
Senator Christopher Coons, co-chair of the Senate Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, (D-DE), alongside Senator Angus King (I-ME), made remarks recognizing US government contributions to the global effort to defeat malaria. The U.S. government, through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), plays a leading role in helping partner countries and saving lives. With the help of these US-led efforts, malaria deaths have declined by more than 48 percent since 2006.
Thanks to bipartisan support from Congress and the Administration, the United States continues to serve as the world’s largest global health donor, committing $795 million for the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), $1.65 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and $300 million for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance in FY24 funding. This funding is critical to put the world on a path to eradicating malaria.
"The best way that we can show America's values is by being committed and dedicated to helping save the lives of children most of us will never meet in countries most of us have never been to," said Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Co-Chair of the Senate Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. "I'm hopeful about our ability to do that because fighting malaria has long been bipartisan."
“PMI recognizes that a world where no one loses a loved one because of a mosquito bite is possible,” said Dr. David Walton, U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator, U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative. “And together with increased global funding, we can make malaria a disease of the past and create a brighter future for everyone.”
“For more than twenty years, the United States has boldly led the world in the fight against malaria,” said Chris Collins, President of Friends of the Global Fight. “Today we recommit ourselves to that fight—in remembrance of the lives it has taken and as a promise to future generations.”
Explore more photos from the World Malaria Day 2024 congressional reception 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
