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TechnoratiWASHINGTON – The fight against malaria has picked up momentum and excitement as global and faith leaders have set aside their differences and acknowledged that they can bring an end to the scourge together.
(Photo: The Christian Post)Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, addresses hundreds at the One World Against Malaria campaign launch event at the National Geographic Society on Friday, April 24, 2009.
(Photo: The Christian Post)Prelate Sunday Ola Makinde of the Methodist Church of Nigeria speaks at the One World Against Malaria campaign launch at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., on Friday, April 24, 2009.
(Photo: The Christian Post)Children from Africa sing at the One World Against Malaria campaign launch at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., on Friday, April 24, 2009.
(Photo: The Christian Post)Katherine Commale, 8, speaks at the One World Against Malaria campaign launch at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., on Friday, April 24, 2009.
In an unprecedented move on Friday, hundreds of leaders from the public, private, and faith-based sectors launched the "One World Against Malaria" campaign that will mobilize hundreds of millions of dollars in new resources to combat the mosquito-borne illness.
The campaign, launched in time for World Malaria Day on Saturday, has a strong faith-based focus. Many leaders expressed assurances in meeting their goal to end malaria deaths by the year 2015 with help from Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other faith communities which have already proven to be effective partners.
"Strong collaboration among governments, donors, international organizations, the private sector, civil society and faith-based organizations has accelerated the progress on malaria," said Ann M. Veneman, executive director of UNICEF, the world's largest global purchaser of insecticide-treated bed nets.
All global leaders attending the campaign launch agreed that in recent years they have achieved measurable successes in preventing and treating malaria, which kills 3,000 children every day.
According to a UNICEF report, released Friday, the number of insecticide-treated nets produced worldwide has more than tripled since 2004, from 30 million to 100 million in 2008. And not even half way into the year, UNICEF has already purchased more nets this year than they have in all of 2008.
More than 40 percent of the at-risk population has received bed nets over the last year. Ray Chambers, special envoy of the U.N. Secretary-General for malaria, is optimistic they will be able to provide universal coverage by the end of 2010.
Through the scaling up of bed nets, an estimated 125,000 malaria deaths were averted in 10 African countries in 2001-2007, and most were averted since 2006.
Chambers noted that in Ethiopia, incidents of malaria and deaths from the disease have decreased by over 50 percent and Zanzibar has seen zero cases of malaria. Hospital beds in Zanzibar island are now completely free, Chambers said.
"We're moving with such great pace and energy," said the special envoy, who co-hosted Friday's event with Edward Scott, founder of Center for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty (CIFA).
Rapid progress in the fight against malaria is expected to continue through the new model of interfaith cooperation that was unveiled Friday by CIFA.
The model was pioneered in Nigeria, where Muslims and Christians – who make up most of the country's population – began working together in the last few years. Expressing solidarity and unity, Nigeria's prominent religious leaders showcased their collaboration and reaffirmed their commitment to ending malaria deaths.
"There's no Christian or Muslim disease ...that's why we are fully and totally committed," said Sultan Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar of Sokoto of Nigeria.
The faith leaders are also collaborating with the Nigerian government, which has found the faith-based sector an integral partner in the malaria fight.
Babatunde Osotimehin, minister of health in Nigeria, is confident that Nigeria will be rid of malaria in the coming years through the new partnerships. He pointed out, however, that partnering with faith communities is not about networking but about utilizing those who are trusted by the people. Continue »
