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:
- Continued support of several initiatives to fight malaria, including the Global Fund; the US Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act; and the President’s Global Health Initiative and Malaria Initiative
- Encourage other countries to continue or increase their efforts and contributions to combating malaria.
- Continued public-private partnerships for research and development on vaccines, prevention and treatment.
- Recognizes the need to improve overall child and maternal health in sub-Saharan Africa.
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.