Addressing Malaria

Every 30 seconds, a child in Africa dies of malaria. Each year, malaria infects more than 500 million people and kills 1 million. While it is a danger to all age groups, malaria disproportionately affects children under 5 and pregnant women. In addition to the loss of life, the illness prevents sustainable employment for both companies and employees, and it has significant impact on health-care systems, costing the continent of Africa $12 billion a year.

While malaria was eradicated in the United States in the 1950s, it is still a major global health challenge for people in developing countries. In Africa, increasing drug resistance and struggling health systems actually have caused malaria infections to increase during the past three decades.

The United Methodist Church is responding to this challenge through the following initiatives:

Nothing But Nets, a campaign of the U.N. Foundation, in partnership with the people of The United Methodist Church, raises funds for the purchase, distribution and education on proper use of mosquito nets for children under 5 in Africa. This campaign has greatly expanded awareness of this preventable disease and ignited the passions of thousands of United Methodists who have given more than $1.75 million to provide bed nets to families in Africa.

The Inter Religious Campaign against Malaria in Mozambique (IRCMM), an education and supply initiative managed by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Mozambique and implemented by the IRCMM, with technical support provided through the Washington National Cathedral.