GCC progress in global fight against malaria
Today, the World Health Organization released the World Malaria Report 2015, which reflects historic progress in the global fight against malaria. Since 2000, the mortality rate among children under five fell by 65 percent worldwide and by 71 percent in Africa. I’m thrilled to see such tremendous progress against this deadly disease.
A lot of this progress can be attributed to life-saving bednets distributed across Africa. By 2014, more than half of the population was protected by nets, compared to less than two percent in 2000.
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon recently declared that the UN’s targets to reverse the incidence of malaria by 2015¬ – as outlined under Millennium Development Goal 6 – have been met and surpassed. This is also reflected in the report. This gives us incredible momentum as we start 2016 and a new set of global goals to end this disease for good.
Our work is still far from complete. There were 438,000 deaths from malaria worldwide this year. Approximately 3.3 billion people are still at risk of malaria.
No child should die from a mosquito bite. Every child deserves the chance to lead a healthy life, which is why we must sustain the gains we’ve made and accelerate efforts to defeat malaria.
Since 2006, various charities have worked closely with its UN partners to deliver more than nine million nets to families across 30 African countries. With the help of more than 350,000 supporters, partners, and champions across the country and around the world who are raising awareness, funds, and voices to make an impact. Partners and supporters across the world are advocating for continued malaria funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the President’s Malaria Initiative, so that they can continue their crucial work towards the fight against malaria.
This year, Royal Group Charity will announce The 100,000 Nets Pledge, our commitment to delivering over one hundred thousand life-saving nets to families displaced by conflict across Africa. We are already starting our goal, thanks to our valued partners and our goodwill motivation.
Supported by the GCC, Royal Group Charity foundation plans to supply more than ten million nets to Africa by 2017. Making the GCC the largest donor to fight malaria.
The majority of malaria victims worldwide are children under the age of five
We can’t stop now. Millions of children and their families are counting on us. Together, we can defeat malaria.
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Help spread the word about the GCC and Royal Group Charity and join the global fight against malaria.