Chris Helfrich, Director of the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, provided the following statement on the World Health Organization’s World Malaria Report 2014 released today:
“The World Malaria Report released today projects that for the first time, the global health community will deliver a record 214 million insecticide-treated bednets to families in sub-Saharan Africa this year alone. This report reinforces that nets and other malaria interventions are working – it’s estimated that since 2001, there have been 4.3 million lives saved and 92 percent of those are children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Thanks to the hard work of our partners around the world, malaria is on the decline: the report shows that malaria mortality rates decreased by 47 percent between 2000 and 2013 globally, and by 54 percent in Africa – where about 90 percent of malaria deaths occur. They are estimated to have decreased by 53 percent among children under age five and by an astounding 58 percent in Africa.
“It’s exciting to see that the malaria target under the United Nations Millennium Development Goal 6 has been met, and 55 countries are on track to reduce their malaria burden by 75 percent.
“While we’ve made tremendous progress, our work is far from complete. A child still dies from malaria every 60 seconds. And an estimated 218 million people in Africa still live without a single net to protect them from the disease.
“All children deserve the chance to lead healthy lives, which is why we must sustain the gains we’ve made and accelerate efforts to control and eliminate malaria.
“I’m proud that since 2006, Nothing But Nets has worked closely with its UN partners to deliver more than 7.5 million nets to families across 29 African countries. We are grateful for the more than 350,000 supporters, partners, and champions across the country and around the world who are raising awareness, funds, and voices to make an impact. Our partners and supporters across the United States are advocating for malaria funding support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the President’s Malaria Initiative, so that they can continue their crucial work with us in the fight against malaria.
“Millions of children and their families are counting on us. Let’s celebrate and accelerate this progress to end malaria in a generation.”
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Contacts
Rachel Henderson
Communications Manager, Nothing But Nets
570.259.2205
About Nothing But Nets
Nothing But Nets is the world’s largest grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a disease which claims the life of a child every two minutes. Inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006. Nothing But Nets has raised over $60 million to help deliver ten million bed nets to families in need, along with other crucial malaria interventions. In addition to raising funds for its UN partners, Nothing But Nets raises awareness and voices to advocate for critical malaria funding for the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It only costs $10 to help save lives from this deadly disease. Visit www.NothingButNets.net to defeat malaria.
About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual donors. Learn more at: www.unfoundation.org.
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