USAID Administrator Gayle Smith Statement on World Malaria Day
Today, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Gayle Smith released the following statement in honor of World Malaria Day:
"On World Malaria Day, USAID joins partners across theglobein commemorating incredible progress in thefight against malaria. When President Bushcreatedthe U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) in 2005, the disease was almost certainly a death sentence for most poor children in Africa. Thanks to his efforts,President Obama's expansion of the initiative,bipartisan support in Congress,and the hard work of partners around the world,today six million lives have been saved,a vast majority of whom arechildren.
"But our fight is not over. A child still dies every two minutes from malaria.So wemust alsoanswerPresident Obama's callandwork to endmalariawithin a generation. As the world's leading donor in global health, the United States stands ready to work with partners tointensify efforts around the world tosave lives andstop this disease in its tracks.
"PMI is emblematic of what can be achieved with leadership, vision, and hard worksustained over time. Through PMI, hundreds of millions of people have benefited from protective measures and have been diagnosed and treated for malaria. On World Malaria Day, wecelebratethis progress, remember those we have lost,andreaffirmour commitmentto ending malariafor good."
Aboutthe President's Malaria Initiative
PMI is a U.S. Government initiative led by theU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)and implemented with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Today,PMI supports19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and countries in the Greater Mekong sub-region.Read PMI's 10th annual report to Congresshere.
#CallYourShotcampaign
In conjunction with World Malaria Day, USAID has teamed up with a coalition of partners, including the United Nations Foundation's NothingButNets and Malaria No More to launch the #CallYourShotcampaign to raise awareness and funds in the fight against malaria. Basketballstar Stephen Curry, along with other athletes, celebrities, and everyday champions, are taking part and taking their shots to end malaria for good.