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Skriven 2006-11-13 23:31:08 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (061113) for Mon, 2006 Nov 13
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Fact Sheet: The White House Summit on Malaria
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For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
November 13, 2006

Fact Sheet: The White House Summit on Malaria



Malaria _ A Largely Preventable Disease _ Kills 3,000 Children Every Day
And Claims Almost A Million Lives A Year In Africa. Defeating malaria is an
urgent calling and an achievable goal. Adding to the urgency is the fact
that malaria is largely preventable. While malaria once afflicted many
Americans, today malaria is virtually unheard of in the United States.Over
the decades, malaria was eliminated in the United States and elsewhere
through science and medical advances. The challenge now is to make sure
this progress benefits people still at risk of malaria in Africa.

The President And Mrs. Bush Will Host The White House Summit On Malaria On
December 14, 2006, In Washington, DC, To Discuss And Highlight Measures For
Combating This Preventable Disease

President Bush Announced The President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) In June
2005. PMI is a five-year, $1.2 billion program that challenges the private
sector to join the U.S. Government in combating malaria in 15 of the
hardest-hit countries. The initiative aims to cut malaria-related deaths by
50 percent in these 15 focus countries in Africa.
  þ Through partnerships working in the first three focus countries _
    Tanzania, Angola and Uganda _ aid from the American people has already
    reached about six million Africans.
  þ In June 2006, Mrs. Laura Bush announced the United States will partner
    with four more focus countries _ Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, and
    Senegal _ to provide long-lasting mosquito nets, anti-malarial drugs,
    and help these countries conduct mosquito-spraying programs. The
    initiative also includes education and evaluation programs.

Purpose Of The Summit

Highlighting Measures To Control Malaria. The White House Summit on Malaria
will bring together international experts, multilateral institutions,
corporations and foundations, African civic leaders, NGOs and faith-based
and service organizations to discuss and highlight measures for controlling
malaria. The objectives of the Summit are:
  þ To jump-start an ambitious public-private effort to control malaria;
  þ To educate the American public about malaria, a largely preventable and
    treatable disease; and,
  þ To send a message globally about the need for governments, NGOs,
    corporations, and private citizens to join together to control malaria.

Partnering Together To Give African Children The Gift Of Growing Up. The
Summit will highlight the many organizations at work in the fight against
malaria, including Malaria No More, which is helping to mobilize new
private sector support.
  þ Malaria No More: Malaria No More is a non-profit organization created
    in 2006 by leading non-governmental entities to give private and
    non-profit organizations and individuals the opportunity to support a
    comprehensive approach to control malaria, and to help coordinate those
    efforts with governments and the multilateral organizations at the
    forefront of the fight. Malaria No More is mobilizing corporations and
    foundations; churches, synagogues and mosques; schools and athletic
    teams; and communities and individuals.
      þ Other Summit Partners Include The Office Of The Coordinator For The
        President's Malaria Initiative At The U.S. Agency For International
        Development And The Office Of Public Diplomacy And Public Affairs
        At The U.S. State Department.

Mobilizing Grassroots To Save Millions Of Lives In Africa. The Summit
willengage the private sector in a powerful grassroots movement to raise
awareness of malaria, and highlight ways that organizations and individuals
can get involved in combating this preventable disease.

Themes Of The Summit

The Challenge Of Malaria In Africa. One child dies in Africa every 30
seconds from malaria. At least one million infants and children under five
in sub-Saharan Africa die each year from the mosquito-borne disease. While
this disease is one of the greatest threats to human and economic welfare
on earth, malaria is both preventable and treatable if addressed properly
and quickly.

The Power Of Public/Private Partnerships. The Summit will help educate the
public about malaria and public and private efforts to control it, and
jump-start an ambitious public-private effort, sending a message globally
about the need for governments, NGOs, and corporations to come together to
control malaria. Major multilateral institutions in the forefront of the
effort to control malaria are also expected to attend, including UNICEF,
the World Bank, the World Health Organization, the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and others.

Growing The Grassroots. Under the leadership of Malaria No More, America's
corporations and foundations, nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations,
individuals and America's young people are being challenged to save lives
and build a bridge between peoples. One American with just $10 can save a
life in Africa. A school, a church, or a team can save a village. Together,
Americans can help protect an entire continent.

More Information

For More Information On This Initiative, Please Visit:
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/malaria.

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