Nine journalists to report on the historic progress, innovative approaches and ongoing challenges in the fight against malaria on the African continent
WASHINGTON, DC – March 30, 2016 – Malaria No More today announced the winners of a new press fellowship that gives journalists the opportunity to learn first-hand about the progress and challenges in the malaria fight.
More than 50 journalists from various U.S. media outlets applied for the five-day fellowship, which will take place in May. Malaria No More and the International Center for Journalists selected nine to travel to Tanzania, where they will meet with locals who are most affected, as well as health officials, disease experts and organizations working to control and eliminate the disease. Fellows will learn about successful strategies that have led to progress on malaria and what it will take to end the disease for good.
“The progress against malaria is one of the most inspiring stories of the past decade,” said Susan Byrnes, managing director of strategic communications for Malaria No More. “But the job is not finished. I’m thrilled that these top-notch journalists will get the chance to learn more about this devastating disease and what it will take to end it for good.”
The program, which is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, comes at an important time in the malaria fight. In his final State of the Union address in January, President Barack Obama called on the world to end malaria. On February 9, he released his FY17 budget proposal, which contained a $71 million increase for the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), bringing the total to $745 million, as well as an additional $129 million from redirected Ebola funds. President Obama has also requested $1.35 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. These investments illustrate the U.S. government’s dedication and leadership in fighting this preventable and treatable disease.
The rate of malaria deaths have declined by 60 percent since 2000. The most stunning achievements in the fight against malaria have occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, which carries about 90 percent of the global malaria burden. However, the disease still kills 438,000 people every year—most of them children.
The nine journalists participating in the program are:
- David Freeman, Senior Science Editor – Huffington Post
- Andrew Green, Freelance Journalist – Filing for The Lancet
- David Gurien, Senior Writer/Editor – CNN International
- Katy Migiro, East Africa Correspondent – Reuters Newswire
- Jack Renaud, Producer – CBS News
- Danielle Renwick, Copy Editor/Writer – Council on Foreign Relations
- Kaleigh Rogers, Staff Writer – Motherboard, VICE Media
- Maanvi Singh, Reporter/Assistant Editor – National Public Radio
- Luis Velarde, Producer – Associated Press
