Funding Primer

The Global Fight Against Malaria

A powerful new World Health Organization (WHO) report clearly demonstrates that investments in rapid scale-up of malaria control are reaping real dividends.

With the support of the U.S. government, foundations and other public and private sector efforts, the global fight against malaria is turning the corner – but much work remains if we are to defeat this disease that is killing 3,000 children a day in Africa and more than one million people a year.

We can defeat malaria. We did it here in the United States by 1951, but the global eradication campaign of the '50s and '60s never reached Africa. The time is now to step up the global fight against malaria.

Progress is Being Made

A powerful new World Health Organization (WHO) report clearly demonstrates that investments in rapid scale-up of malaria control are reaping real dividends. Specifically, the report shows that widespread use of long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets and access to malaria drugs can cut malaria-related deaths by more than half among children in the hardest-hit countries of Africa.

The findings from Rwanda and Ethiopia show dramatic progress over a large geographical scale: In Rwanda, malaria deaths dropped 66% and incidence dropped 64% between 2005 and 2007. In Ethiopia, malaria deaths dropped 51% and incidence dropped 60% between 2005 and 2007

This report comes on the heels of a 2007 UNICEF report that revealed, tangible progress is being made in controlling malaria across sub-Saharan Africa, setting the stage for even bigger gains in the next few years. With a new set of sophisticated, cost-effective tools the world is poised to radically reduce the human and economic costs of malaria.

U.S. Funding is Making a Difference

Impressive action is being taken by malaria control programs supported by Congressional funding:

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria

$3.6 billion approved for malaria control since 2002
Distributed 46 million bed nets to date, a 155% increase from a year ago.
Financed drug treatment for 44 million suffering from malaria

U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative

Reached more than 16 million people with lifesaving prevention or treatment
Procured and distributed more than 2.3 million long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLINs); the remainder of FY 2007 funding will provide 1.9 million more nets
Procured 15 million treatments of ACTs; trained more than 14,000 health workers Distributed over 2 million doses of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) to reduce the impact of malaria in pregnancy
Will protect 10 million people with indoor residual spraying (IRS) campaigns by the end of the year

World Bank Booster Program for Malaria Control in Africa

Running 17 projects in 17 countries
Will distribute 20 million LLINs by the end of the year
Will distribute 15 million doses of ACTs by the end of the year
In total, at least 21 million nets and 42 million doses of ACTs distributed in projects approved in first phase

Continued U.S. Investment Will Save More Lives

Additional funding is urgently needed to bring malaria under control in Africa
- The WHO estimates that $1.7 to $2.2 billion per year is needed for malaria control in Africa.
- Current commitments total less than $1 billion a year in Africa
Now is the time to build on investments by supporting
- PMI funding to full request level
- IDA funding for the World Bank
- GFATM continued funding
Controlling malaria is essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and relieving the crippling stress on African health systems
- Malaria accounts for 25-35% of outpatient clinical visits and up to 40% of medical costs in malaria-endemic Africa countries
- Rapid scale-up of malaria control could save 3.5 million lives and free up more than 400,000 hospital beds across sub-Saharan Africa over five years
- 80% LLIN coverage produces 50% reduction in malaria incidence
- Malaria costs Africa an estimated $12 billion a year in medical costs and lost productivity