Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) are recognizing World Malaria Day this Sunday, April 25th with a bipartisan resolution passed by the Senate that reaffirms America’s leadership toward combating malaria around the world. 

Every year, malaria takes the lives of nearly one million people, primarily women and children in sub-Saharan Africa.  Malaria can be easily prevented and treated using proven interventions like insecticide treated bed nets and inexpensive medicines.  Using these interventions, considerable progress has been made in recent years to reduce the number of malaria deaths in different parts of the world.  Feingold and Wicker’s resolution reaffirms the commitment of the United States to continue working with international partners to bring an end to malaria deaths once and for all. 

“As we observe World Malaria Day, it is important to recognize the continued threat that malaria poses to pregnant women, as well as young and vulnerable children across Africa and around the world,” said Feingold, chairman of the Senate Working Group on Malaria.  “During a trip to Tanzania, I saw firsthand the devastating impact malaria can have on a community.  But I also saw the tremendous progress that can be achieved with the help of insecticide-treated bed nets and other proven tools.  In recent years, countries like Tanzania, Rwanda and Zambia have made tremendous strides in reducing malaria deaths.  The goal of ending all malaria deaths by 2015 has become an attainable target, but it will require continued international, regional and national leadership. Senate passage of our resolution makes clear that the United States will continue to do our part to work for a malaria-free world.”

“By designating April 25 ‘World Malaria Day,’ we can bring the critical global health goal of eradicating malaria to the attention of people around the world.  An estimated 900,000 people die of malaria each year – most of them children in Africa.  The real tragedy is that all of these deaths can be prevented,” said Wicker.  “The good news is that treatment and prevention efforts in Tanzania, Rwanda, and the island of Zanzibar are making a real difference. In those targeted areas, we have seen a significant drop in the prevalence of malaria in a short time.  I hope we can make malaria prevention and eradication a priority.  Work to advance global health is not only our moral responsibility.  It is also a powerful tool for international security and democracy.”

Feingold and Wicker’s malaria resolution is cosponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Johnson (D-SD) and James Inhofe (R-OK).

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