Malaria Awareness Day
Encyclopedia
Malaria Awareness Day was designated to be April 25 by President George W. Bush
in 2007. In his proclamation, President Bush called on Americans to join in on the goal to eradicate malaria on the African continent.. On April 25, 2006, President Bush described Malaria Awareness Day to be a day when "we focus our attention on all who suffer from this terrible disease -- especially the millions on the continent of Africa. We remember the millions more who died from this entirely preventable and treatable disease. As a compassionate nation, we are called to spread awareness about malaria
-- and we're called to act. That's what compassionate people do. When they see a problem, they act. And that's what we're here to talk about. On this special day, we renew our commitment to lead the world toward an urgent goal, and that is to turn the tide against malaria in Africa, and around the globe." President Bush also shared with the public the White House's strategic plan against malaria. This included two new endeavors in Uganda
and Madagascar
to distribute millions of life saving bed nets with the New York-based nonprofit group Malaria No More
.
Leading up to Malaria Awareness Day, many prominent companies, organizations, and celebrities declared initiatives to join the fight against malaria. These included a $3 million "challenge grant" announced by ExxonMobil
to match donations dollar by dollar to Malaria No More
. This grant was a part of the "Idol Gives Back
" episodes of American Idol
, which was aired on Malaria Awareness Day. Major League Soccer
Commissioner Don Garber
also announced that the league would promote malaria awareness and bed net fundraising promotions in the month of April leading up to Malaria Awareness Day. Actress Ashley Judd
, announced the April launch of a new initiative called “5 & Alive,” which will focus on the devastating effects of malaria on children under 5. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America announced their own national campaign called "Malaria Prevention: Deadly Disease. Simple Solution", which will partner with Malaria No More to approach all 4.7 Million Club members worldwide to ask for $10 bed net donations. Said John Bridgeland, CEO of Malaria No More, said, “In the past few years, Americans have demonstrated their generosity in Katrina and Tsunami relief efforts. Now they’re coming together for another great cause: to end the more than one million deaths a year caused by malaria. April 25th is just the beginning for this emerging movement.”
However, the movement is not without its critics, such as the African economist Dambisa Moyo
. She warns that the short term benefits of aid such as mosquito nets can have long term detrimental effects to the sustainability of African economies. When the markets are flooded with foreign nets then this puts African entrepreneurs out of business. She also states that such interventions can disenfranchise citizens from their Governments and that it should the Governments in the driving seat of such initiatives and not foreign organizations.
Other former U.S. Presidents are involved in anti-malaria efforts. Former President Bill Clinton
's Clinton Foundation
includes an anti-malaria component that, according to director Inder Singh
has distributed anti-malaria drugs to millions in Africa and Asia.
Malaria kills 3,000 children a day and takes nearly 1 million lives every year in Africa. It is a preventable and treatable disease, however, poverty impedes access to treatment and bed nets for prevention.
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in 2007. In his proclamation, President Bush called on Americans to join in on the goal to eradicate malaria on the African continent.. On April 25, 2006, President Bush described Malaria Awareness Day to be a day when "we focus our attention on all who suffer from this terrible disease -- especially the millions on the continent of Africa. We remember the millions more who died from this entirely preventable and treatable disease. As a compassionate nation, we are called to spread awareness about malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
-- and we're called to act. That's what compassionate people do. When they see a problem, they act. And that's what we're here to talk about. On this special day, we renew our commitment to lead the world toward an urgent goal, and that is to turn the tide against malaria in Africa, and around the globe." President Bush also shared with the public the White House's strategic plan against malaria. This included two new endeavors in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
to distribute millions of life saving bed nets with the New York-based nonprofit group Malaria No More
Malaria No More
Malaria No More is a nonprofit organization that aims to end death caused by malaria in Africa by 2015. Malaria No More is known for its participation in the Idol Gives Back charity specials.- History :...
.
Leading up to Malaria Awareness Day, many prominent companies, organizations, and celebrities declared initiatives to join the fight against malaria. These included a $3 million "challenge grant" announced by ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
to match donations dollar by dollar to Malaria No More
Malaria No More
Malaria No More is a nonprofit organization that aims to end death caused by malaria in Africa by 2015. Malaria No More is known for its participation in the Idol Gives Back charity specials.- History :...
. This grant was a part of the "Idol Gives Back
Idol Gives Back
Idol Gives Back is the name of a charitable campaign that spanned two episodes of American Idol during its sixth season. A second Idol Gives Back concert and fundraiser occurred on April 9, 2008, during the seventh season of the show. Idol Gives Back was not held in 2009 due to the ongoing...
" episodes of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, which was aired on Malaria Awareness Day. Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Commissioner Don Garber
Don Garber
Donald Garber is the commissioner of Major League Soccer, CEO of Soccer United Marketing, and a member of the United States Soccer Federation board of directors. Garber has spent his entire career in the sports industry, working in a variety of capacities in marketing, television and league...
also announced that the league would promote malaria awareness and bed net fundraising promotions in the month of April leading up to Malaria Awareness Day. Actress Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd is an American television and film actress, who has played lead roles in films including Ruby in Paradise, Kiss the Girls, Double Jeopardy, Where the Heart Is and High Crimes...
, announced the April launch of a new initiative called “5 & Alive,” which will focus on the devastating effects of malaria on children under 5. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America announced their own national campaign called "Malaria Prevention: Deadly Disease. Simple Solution", which will partner with Malaria No More to approach all 4.7 Million Club members worldwide to ask for $10 bed net donations. Said John Bridgeland, CEO of Malaria No More, said, “In the past few years, Americans have demonstrated their generosity in Katrina and Tsunami relief efforts. Now they’re coming together for another great cause: to end the more than one million deaths a year caused by malaria. April 25th is just the beginning for this emerging movement.”
However, the movement is not without its critics, such as the African economist Dambisa Moyo
Dambisa Moyo
Dr. Dambisa Moyo is an international economist and New York Times best-selling author of both Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way For Africa, published in 2009, and How the West Was Lost: Fifty Years of Economic Folly - And the Stark Choices that Lie Ahead, published in...
. She warns that the short term benefits of aid such as mosquito nets can have long term detrimental effects to the sustainability of African economies. When the markets are flooded with foreign nets then this puts African entrepreneurs out of business. She also states that such interventions can disenfranchise citizens from their Governments and that it should the Governments in the driving seat of such initiatives and not foreign organizations.
Other former U.S. Presidents are involved in anti-malaria efforts. Former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's Clinton Foundation
Clinton Foundation
The William J. Clinton Foundation is a foundation established by former President of the United States Bill Clinton with the stated mission to "strengthen the capacity of people throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence." The Foundation focuses on four critical areas:...
includes an anti-malaria component that, according to director Inder Singh
Inder Singh (philanthropist)
Inder Singh is Executive Vice President of the multi-national Clinton Health Access Initiative, a global not-for-profit organization fighting malaria and other diseases. Mr. Singh has become known for his worldwide presence actions for global health, particularly regarding malaria eradication. He...
has distributed anti-malaria drugs to millions in Africa and Asia.
Malaria kills 3,000 children a day and takes nearly 1 million lives every year in Africa. It is a preventable and treatable disease, however, poverty impedes access to treatment and bed nets for prevention.