Washington, DC (November 29, 2017) – Margaret Reilly McDonnell, Director of the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign, provided the following statement on the World Health Organization’s World Malaria Report 2017 released today:
“In 2000, the world committed to protect millions of people from deadly, yet preventable and treatable diseases like malaria. Inspired by the bold vision of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and the Roll Back Malaria partnership, the global community banded together to create The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) and the United States created the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), unlocking billions in funding to scale up the delivery of life-saving tools like bed nets.
“Since then, thanks to this significant investment, strong political leadership, and the development and distribution of effective tools, we’ve seen a staggering decline in malaria cases and deaths, saving close to seven million lives from this deadly disease. Globally, we have reduced deaths by an estimated 62%, and an estimated 69% among children under age five in sub-Saharan Africa. What’s more, bed nets accounted for 68% of the malaria cases prevented since 2001.
“Today’s report, however, suggests our hard-earned success is fragile and uneven, putting our tremendous progress at risk. We’re seeing a plateau in funding; an increase in insecticide and drug resistance; and a breakdown in health systems in crisis-ridden areas in northeastern Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen, and Venezuela.
“But we at Nothing But Nets and the United Nations Foundation will not be deterred; in fact, we remain committed to working toward a future where no one dies from a mosquito bite. Every woman, every child, and every refugee deserves a chance to lead a healthy life, which is why we cannot give up.
“I am encouraged by the incredible work of PMI, the Global Fund, the UN, and other partners working around the clock to deliver life-saving tools and treatment. I am in awe of our Nothing But Nets champions, donors, and private sector partners who have stepped up to protect vulnerable families living in the world’s most dangerous and hard-to-reach communities including those in Nigeria, South Sudan, and Venezuela where the burden of malaria is highest. And we can find hope in stories coming from the Americas, where many countries are close to reaching elimination.
“In April next year, the global malaria community will come together at two crucial events – a high-level event on malaria at the Commonwealth Summit in London and the 7th MIM Pan African Malaria Conference in Dakar – to redouble our efforts to end malaria. We must call on leaders across government, business, science, civil society, and beyond to realize commitments and innovation to accelerate progress once again.
“A child dies from malaria every two minutes. It is tragic. It is unacceptable. We must do better and end this disease once and for all.”
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Contact
Rachel Henderson
Communications Manager, Nothing But Nets
rhenderson@unfoundation.org
202.739.2782
About Nothing But Nets
Nothing But Nets is the world’s largest grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a disease which claims the life of a child every two minutes. Inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006. Nothing But Nets has raised over $65 million to help deliver 12 million bed nets to families in need, along with other crucial malaria interventions. In addition to raising funds for its UN partners, Nothing But Nets raises awareness and voices to advocate for critical malaria funding for the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. It only costs $10 to help save lives from this deadly disease. Visit www.NothingButNets.net to defeat malaria.
About The United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.
© NOTHING BUT NETS 2017 • SAVE LIVES. DEFEAT MALARIA
A campaign of the 
