Next Friday Is World Malaria Day

Posted by Mosquito Squad

April 18, 2014

Next Friday, April 25th, marks the 7th Annual World Malaria Day. World Malaria Day was founded in 2007 by the World Health Organization as “an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control” Source.

Many Americans don’t remember (or weren’t born during) a time when malaria plagued the United States, but it did! During World War II, the US started the Office of Malaria Control in War Areas (it is now the Centers for Disease Control) that focused on stopping malaria around military training camps in the southern half of the country. The efforts were successful and in 1947 a movement to eradicate malaria from the country started. In just two short years, malaria was no longer a major health concern in the United States.

While we haven’t had to struggle with malaria for over 60 years locally, it still kills an estimated 627,000 people globally every year. Africa is the hardest hit continent, but progress is happening! The malaria incidence rate has decreased by 25% globally since 2000 with increased awareness and commitment.

World Malaria Day’s theme for 2014 and 2015 is simple: “Invest in the future. Defeat malaria.” And with our partner, Malaria No More, Mosquito Squad is doing just that.

For the past three years, Mosquito Squad has committed itself to fighting malaria through our partnership with Malaria No More, a nonprofit with the goal of ending malaria deaths in Africa. Malaria No More provides bed nets, malaria tests, treatment and education in areas of Africa that are hard hit with this preventable and treatable vector-borne disease.

In 2013, we saved over 50,000 lives with our contributions. Every dollar can save a life, literally. Just one dollar can provide both a test and five-day treatment, saving a life.

In January of this year, we laid out Dread’s Challenge, a three year goal of saving 250,000 lives in Africa. If you want to help us fight the bite, please donate now at SwatMalaria.net.