"Every 30 seconds, an African child dies of this disease."
By Mr Tommy G. Thompson,
Chairman of the Board of the Global Fund
The conditions
conducive to malarial transmission - warm weather, a wet environment, a
thriving mosquito population, and a short winter season - are also the conditions
prevalent over much of the continent of Africa. Ninety percent of the world’s
malaria cases occur in Africa. In a place where material development is
especially crucial, and every bit of capital precious, malaria costs $12
billion a year in lost African GDP. Worse than the money lost, of course,
are the promising lives snuffed out far too early - mothers, fathers, sons
and daughters. In an average year in Africa, 500 million new malaria infections
occur, accompanied by more than one million deaths. Every 30 seconds, an
African child dies of this disease.
These are terrible statistics that we, working together, can change for
the better. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has
already made serious commitments to the people of Africa to help them
with this challenge. As Chair of the Fund for 2003, I am proud to report
that our efforts to combat malaria in Africa are strong and growing:
- Of all Fund grant expenditures, 22 percent are committed to anti-malaria
programs, of which 78 percent are in Africa.
- Because the Global Fund has prioritized interventions to most quickly
affect people's lives, 57 percent of the approved funding for anti-malaria
programs will buy drugs and commodities over the next five years.
- Africa will receive 36 million insecticide treated nets over the next
five years through projects funded by the Global Fund. Since an individual
bednet can protect mothers, children, and whole families from malarial
mosquitoes for many months, this intervention will make a real difference.
- Thanks to Global Fund grants, the number of Africans suffering from malaria
who receive therapy will increase three hundred-fold.
- Round 2 Global Fund proposals alone will provide almost 900,000 rapid diagnosis kits for Africa. These kits will quickly identify those in need of treatment, thereby saving lives by making earlier intervention possible.
This is only the beginning of our efforts to fight malaria. As we mark
Africa Malaria Day this Friday, April 25, we should remember the threat
of malaria - and rededicate ourselves to saving the lives it puts at risk.
With the resources of the Fund, and the compassion of people like you, we
will. 
Tommy G. Thompson
Chairman of the Board
- See A graphical
presentation of the Global Fund's contribution to the fight against
malaria in Powerpoint
- Visit the Africa Malaria Day 2003 website
- Visit the Roll Back Malaria's website
- Read more about Fighting Malaria
- See a listing of all our funded
Malaria Programs
- More Malaria Links & Resources
