“For half the world, every day is malaria day.” This message from the World Malaria Day website is a stark reminder that, despite having essentially eradicated malaria in the developed world, over 400,000 people still die of the disease every year around the world.
World Malaria Day is an annual observance on April 25th that brings the world together to keep up the fight against malaria. This year’s theme is “End Malaria for Good,” which builds on the mission of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
As a mosquito control company, we feel that it is crucial to do our part in ending malaria. This is why we partner with Malaria No More, a non-profit organization dedicated to wiping out this killer disease once and for all.
Malaria No More celebrated it’s 10th anniversary this month, and the progress they have made in that short time is quite impressive. Through government lobbying, unique partnerships, donations of supplies, and strategic awareness building, the campaign is getting closer to ending malaria deaths. Since 2000, malaria mortality rates have fallen 60% globally.
However, malaria is not an easy opponent. In 2014, there were an estimated 214 million cases worldwide, most of which were pregnant women and children. The disease is not only causing health problems and deaths, but it is causing social issues as well. It accounts for half of preventable absenteeism in African schools, keeping kids from a valuable education. It also keeps adults out of work and drains families’ disposable incomes. Malaria No More estimates that the disease costs Africa an estimated $12 billion a year in lost productivity. In endemic countries, the expenses associated with fighting malaria cost up to 1.3% of the GDP.
Unfortunately, there isn’t enough funding to adequately fight malaria. There is a $3.6 billion gap in funds needed in Africa to end malaria deaths. That’s why Malaria No More needs our help. DC Mosquito Squad has been a proud partner in the fight since 2010, and the franchise has donated more than $50,000 to the cause.
In 2014, we launched Dread’s Challenge, with a three-year goal of saving 250,000 lives in Africa. We can only reach that goal with your help. A donation of just $1 can save a child’s life, and we’ll match your donations! That donation can buy the most economical, effective, and rapidly usable method of malaria prevention: a mosquito net. Malaria is also easily treated with Artemisinin, which can cure a person in three days and costs less than $1.