A few weeks ago, the US Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution to honor World Malaria Day, reaffirming US dedication to the fight against malaria (read more about malaria here). The resolution recognizes the importance of combating malaria and supports the goals of World Malaria Day, including ending deaths caused by malaria by 2015.

Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the resolution. Leaders in working to eradicate malaria, they also co-chair the Senate Working Group on Malaria.

“During my time studying and working in Africa, I witnessed first-hand the havoc that malaria has and on entire villages, especially on women, children, and those most in need and susceptible,” Sen. Coons said in a release. With this resolution, they aim to raise awareness of the effects of this preventable disease that kills three million people a year, 90 percent of them in Africa, and prevents millions more from leading productive lives.

It is estimated that malaria costs sub-Saharan Africa $12 billion every year in lost economic productivity, tourism, foreign investment and trade. Sen. Wicker’s statement emphasized that, “Work to advance global health is not only our moral responsibility, it is also a powerful tool for international security and diplomacy.”

Key components of the resolution:

Eight additional senators co-sponsored the resolution: John Boozman (R-AK), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), James Inhofe (R-OK), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

ONE thanks these Senators for their continued dedication to fighting this debilitating yet preventable disease.

On Tuesday, a bipartisan resolution passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to commemorate World Malaria Day and to reaffirm the United States leadership and support for efforts to combat malaria as a critical component of the President’s Global Health Initiative. The resolution is sponsored by the co-chairs of the Senate World Group on Malaria — Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, and Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Last week, both senators spoke at an event co-hosted by ONE and other organizations to educate congressional staff about malaria and the critical need to continue to fund efforts to stop it. For millions of people around the world, a simple mosquito bite can have deadly consequences. A disease eradicated in the United States in 1949, malaria still kills approximately 781,000 people every year — mostly children, infants and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Malaria is an entirely preventable disease with cost-effective solutions for those infected. Bed nets to protect against malaria cost $10 and medicines to cure malaria cost roughly $6 to 10 per dose. Millions more people now have access to these tools thanks to an increase in resources to fight malaria, and as a result, certain countries are beginning to see dramatic improvements. Eleven African countries have cut malaria deaths in half in the last few years. The Global Fund is the largest funder of anti-malaria efforts and has distributed 122 million bed nets.

Other senators who cosponsored the initiative are: Senators John Boozman (R-Ariz.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). ONE thanks these senators for their efforts to bring attention to an often forgotten disease.

This year for World Malaria Day in the Twin Cities we organized a picnic under bed nets. It was a great day to spend in the park while raising awareness about malaria and the impact an individual’s voice can make. Despite the heavy winds practically blowing the bed nets away, we had intimate discussions on the disease and its impact in developing countries.

At our ONE event, we promoted Malaria No More’s TEN campaign to raise awareness that only $10 buys a bed net that can protect a family from malaria. In addition, attendees had the opportunity to see an actual bed net – one of the most effective prevention tools in the fight against malaria. We also partnered with World Vision to provide attendees with postcards to mail to their representatives, in an effort to make them aware that they, as constituents, care about solving the global problem of malaria.

Our members enjoyed learning about malaria and had a great day in the park! I was excited to see people from so many different ages and walks of life participate and show the initiative to help end malaria deaths.

-Reena Dhake, ONE Twin Cities volunteer

On World Malaria Day, churches throughout Denver came together to launch the Ten Thousand Nets Campaign.

Working together with ONE and Malaria No More, the campaign aims to raise awareness about the scourge of malaria, educate citizens of Denver as to what they can do to fight the disease, and raise money toward the purchase of at least 10,000 bed nets. These partnerships have only strengthened our fight against malaria.

Malaria No More exists to do exactly what their name says. Their passion to fight this disease and their comprehensive knowledge on how to combat malaria has enabled Ten Thousand Nets to move forward with confidence. All donations given on behalf of Ten Thousand Nets go directly towards Malaria No More.

Our partnership with ONE has proven just as powerful. ONE is a leader in global advocacy, working on behalf of the world’s poorest. This is why ONE Sabbath proved to be the perfect engine to launch this campaign—they bring communities of faith together not just to learn, but to act. Knowledge is futile if it does not lead to a change in behavior. And change is what ONE is all about. By launching Ten Thousand Nets during a ONE Sabbath service, we were given the tools to learn together about the world’s most vulnerable, and more importantly how to act on their behalf.

During the service at my church for the Ten Thousand Nets Campaign kick-off, the worship team’s drumkit was draped in a malaria bed net. Upstairs, the church’s youth talked about ways that they could get more involved. By the end of the day, we were able to donate over 1,000 nets through Malaria No More. The Ten Thousand Nets Campaign is living proof that when we do act, lives are saved.

-Pastor Michael Hidalgo, Denver Community Church

On World Malaria Day, we celebrated the official launch of a new campaign by The United Methodist Church called Imagine No Malaria, a $75 million initiative to eliminate death and suffering from malaria.

To mark the celebration, a free concert with Christian rock band Jars of Clay was held in Austin, Texas. The entire community was invited to join the festivities, which included local music, family activities and food from area restaurants.

The crowd was celebrative and attentive. Many had slept under nets the night before and heard stories about the effects of malaria in Africa. They applauded videos played on a jumbotron telling personal stories of the disease’s impact and they cheered when it was announced that thanks to a generous gift that same afternoon, the campaign surpassed its first year goal of $10 million.

As I stood watching Jars of Clay perform on the steps of the Texas State Capitol, I could not help but think about another performance ten days before in the Democratic Republic of Congo nearly 9,000 miles away.

The occasion was a public celebration to kick off a community-wide distribution of 30,000 bed nets to families in the Bongonga neighborhood of Lubumbashi. The stage was set in what had been, a day earlier, a filthy trash dump surrounded by pools of fetid water.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka, an African singer of continent-wide renown and adoration, was the celebrity attraction. And when she called the children to come forward toward the stage, there was a rush of tiny limbs and legs the likes of which I’ve never seen before. They screamed and reached out to her, they danced and created a dust storm, they smiled and the day seemed to come alive in a new way.

This is what we are working for. It’s about these little children having a fair chance to live full, long productive lives. And it’s clear in their innocence with their bright smiles and dancing feet these little faces deserve that chance. They deserve to have a future in which life is more than a struggle to survive each day.

If we keep those faces in mind and work in partnership, the world can reduce the suffering and death caused by this ages-old disease. Being part of a movement to accomplish this is deeply moving and wonderfully exciting.

-Reverend Larry Hollon, Chief Executive, United Methodist Communications

On World Malaria Day last Saturday, ONE Austin jumped on board with the movement across the country. Imagine NO Malaria, an organization affiliated with the United Methodist Church threw a huge city-wide launch party with Jars of Clay as its host. Many other bands, organizations and churches showcased their efforts and unity in fighting for the cause, as well. ONE Austin became a part of this event at the Texas State Capitol and was able to spread the word of ONE to hundreds of people.

Maza, Dallas, Debbie and I were the main four volunteers at this particular event. With our enthusiasm and excitement, we soon had crowds of people surrounding our table to find out what ONE was all about. This excitement carried over to the new members who in turn signed up other new members! In all, we collected nearly 300 signatures. Our efforts were also showcased on Channel 8 News.

The event was such a huge success and everyone, both old and new members, are extremely excited to get moving and begin reaching great heights across the city of Austin, Texas. We have a great core group so far, and with the many members we recruited there is much to look forward to with ONE Austin spreading the word about extreme poverty solutions.

-Paulina Sosa, ONE Member Austin

Our partners at Compassion International even put together a malaria quiz. Take it now and see just how much you know about this completely preventable disease.

Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing stories of how folks celebrated World Malaria Day. We’d love to hear your tale, too—so please tell us what you did in the comments below.

Sunday, April 25th is World Malaria Day. I’m a blessed man as I’m spending this World Malaria Day in beautiful Tanzania, standing with leaders in their drive to combat this disease.

For too long, malaria has cast a long shadow over Africa. Over two thousand children die each day because of malaria. That’s one child every 40 seconds. Those that manage to survive the disease often face lifelong disabilities and challenges. In a part of the world where there is no government safety net—no Medicaid or disability—hundreds of thousands of families struggle to find ways to care for the sick and disabled.

Tanzania has long been one of the nations hardest hit by malaria. As I look out on Dar Es Salaam, the capital city, I feel both sadness and pride. The pride is because with help from the American people, African leaders have made real progress against malaria in the past few years. The sadness is because malaria still casts a shadow on people I talk to here every day.

The first World Malaria Report, released in 2005, documented that well over a million people died every year from malaria. That number is now estimated to be less than 900,000. Hundreds of thousands of people have been saved by interventions and treatments supported by organizations like the United States President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and most importantly, African governments and non-governmental organizations.

This progress is not just progress for Tanzania or Africa—but for the US as well. In a time when the world’s economy has struggled, there are few humanitarian investments that can produce the economic results that ending malaria will. Malaria costs Africa $12 billion a year. Families lose work hours, days at school and disposable income through the affects of this disease.

What most Americans don’t realize is that investments like PMI and the Global Fund aren’t just of benefit to the people of Africa, they also benefit us. When I served as Ambassador to Tanzania and held a “townhall” in a tough area for the US, I was asked by an activist why America “abuses its power?”

I answered that question with one of my own. “What is the number one killer of your children?” The answer was malaria. I then asked him, “Who is doing more than the United States to fight malaria?” The murmurs and nodding of heads spoke volumes on how powerful our foreign assistance work can be diplomatically.

The malaria numbers are changing for the better. Every day more people are being saved from this terrible disease. On World Malaria Day this Sunday, I will be proud to be an American. I’m proud of the difference we’re making in the world. As I often told people when I served as Ambassador, the great untold story in conquering malaria and lifting lives in Africa is the generosity of the American people. There are good people all over the United States who are sending some of their hard earned dollars to people they’ve never met, in places they have never been….all because they care.

According to USAID:

The new USG strategy works toward the goal of halving malaria illnesses and deaths in 70 percent of at-risk populations in sub-Saharan Africa, by accelerating malaria prevention and treatment efforts, building national capacities, and strengthening key health systems. The strategy also outlines contributions to curtail the spread of antimalarial multi-drug resistance in Southeast Asia and South America and to increase emphasis on strategic integration of malaria prevention and treatment activities with programs for maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, neglected tropical diseases, and tuberculosis.

“Sustainability of malaria control programs is a critical goal of U.S. efforts,” said Rear Adm. Tim Ziemer, U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator. “The United States is focusing on building capacity within host countries by training people to manage, deliver, and support the delivery of health services, which will be critical for sustained successes against infectious diseases.”

The USG vision for long-term malaria control is consistent with that of the Roll Back Malaria partnership’s Global Malaria Action Plan’s strategy to achieve and sustain reductions in worldwide malaria deaths and illness over the next 10 to 15 years. The U.S. will continue to work within national control strategies and fund national malaria control plans to ensure country ownership and sustainability.

Global malaria control funding has jumped from $0.3 billion in 2003 to nearly $1.7 billion in 2009. The report credits the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the single largest funder of malaria control efforts at 2/3 of all resources), the World Bank, the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and others for this significant increase in resources. However, the report also highlights the fact that funding still falls short of the $6 billion required in 2010 by the Global Malaria Action Plan (GMAP) for the implementation of global malaria control interventions.

Over the period 2004 to 2009, malaria investments have helped to increase the global production of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) five-fold to 150 million, and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) procurement 30-fold to 160 million.

There were approximately 250 million cases of malaria in 2008, resulting in 850,000 deaths, 90 percent of which occurred in Africa, mainly among children under five years of age. An estimated 1 in every 6 child deaths (16 percent) in Africa is due to malaria.

Panelists at the event, including Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer, Head of the President’s Malaria Initiative and U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator, and Dr. Robert Newman, Director of the World Health Organization’s Global Malaria Program, called for expanded access to rapid diagnostic tests for malaria and effective ACT treatment, in addition to preventative interventions. Dr. Newman reported that 29 countries were still using ineffective monotherapeis, and he called this the greatest threat to increasing drug resistance.