Malaria, an infectious disease common to tropical and subtropical regions, infects between 300 and 500 million people every year and causes between one and three million deaths annually, mostly among young children in Sub-Saharan Africa. If the prevalence of malaria stays on its present upwards course, the death rate could double in the next twenty years.

SITUATION & STATISTICS:

Though malaria is presently endemic throughout the broad band of countries surrounding the equator, it is in sub-Saharan Africa where 85– 90% of malaria fatalities occur.  It is no coincidence that malaria is often associated directly with poverty and furthermore acts as a major hindrance to economic devleopment in many third world countries.  The economic impact of the disease on Africa alone is estimated at $12 billion every year.

Prevention and treatment of malaria are both costly and resource consuming, putting them out of reach of the world's poorest people.  Methods include prophlylactic drugs, mosquito eradication, and prevention of mosquito bites.  Even so prominent economist Jeffrey Sachs estimates that malaria can be controlled for US $3 billion in aid per year.

To put that in perspective, American consumers spent approximately $36 BILLION on their PETS in 2005, alone!!

YOU SHOULD CARE that someone, somewhere in the world, usually in Africa, dies from malaria every thirty seconds.  Most of these victims are children; pregnant women are also especially vulnerable.  Malaria is preventable.  Help us prevent it.

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