Readers: Today is World Malaria Day, and Suzanne McCarron, President of the ExxonMobil Foundation, talked about progress in the fight against malaria in the Huffington Post this morning. You can read her blog post below or visit the Huffington Post website. – Ken
Those who spend time in Africa know all too well the toll malaria takes on people, communities and economies across the continent.
This disease kills about 800,000 people a year, most of them children under the age of 5. It accounts for about 40 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s health expenditures and costs an estimated $12 billion in lost productivity annually.
These statistics are both staggering and tragic – and even more so when you consider that malaria is preventable and treatable.
That’s why in recent years, corporations – ExxonMobil included – have stepped up their efforts with NGOs and governments to end deaths from malaria. We’ve contributed more than $100 million to the fight, which is part of the unprecedented level of global commitment seen in recent years.
On this World Malaria Day, the statistics show we’re making progress. The World Health Organization recently reported a 10 percent drop in global malaria deaths between 2008 and 2009, and a 20 percent drop in the past decade. Thanks to increased awareness, wider distribution of bed nets and improved diagnostics and treatments, cases in some countries fell by as much as 50 percent.
I would encourage anyone reading these statistics to treat them less like an achievement and more like a call to action. The malaria challenge is still far from over.
Inspiring others to join this cause is part of the challenge. Starting today, you can see the faces of individuals from all walks of life who are helping save lives at the Champions to End Malaria exhibit at the United Nations in New York City.
World-renowned photographer Platon has documented the efforts of those who have joined the fight against malaria, from a Boy Scout who hiked 100 miles in nine days, to the first African corporate donor to the Global Fund, to an NBA player advocating for disease prevention.
The exhibit, sponsored by the ExxonMobil Foundation, the United Nations Foundation and Roll Back Malaria, will be on display at the UN until May 22.
In just the 20 African countries most at-risk, Roll Back Malaria estimates that 4.2 million lives could be saved by 2015 with full malaria prevention, protection and treatment coverage. Those of us working toward this goal will remain steadfast in our commitment until such estimates become real lives saved.
Learn more and join the effort at the Roll Back Malaria website.
