In 2007 Bill and Melinda Gates committed the Gates Foundation to helping the world eradicate malaria. Malaria has been the greatest killer disease in human history, yet in the last decade the death rate has almost been halved. Over 3.3 million lives have been saved, 3 million of those being children. Parliamentarians heard that we have the treatment which costs less than £1 and mosquito nets to protect families which cost less than £5. Malaria is responsible for up to half of all school absenteeism in Africa so it is also holding back developing economies.
Gabrielle told the group that the Gates Foundation, together with organisations like Malaria No More UK, is now setting out a path to how we can 'Accelerate to Zero' deaths over the next 20 years with a view to eradicating malaria within most of our lifetimes.
Steve Brine said: "I was very pleased to hear Gabrielle praise the UK's leadership in the fight against malaria, and to hear her point out that thanks to UK leadership and increased global action to save lives, over 1600 lives are saved every day from malaria.
"However, the disease can bounce back hard and fast if efforts to fight it are not maintained. The UK clearly has a vital role to play in continuing to drive forward progress against malaria, helping to sustain international political will and financial commitments to save lives and protect against the threat of malaria resurgence, and I was delighted to meet one of my constituents, James Whiting, who is really leading the charge here."
The event was organised by the charity Malaria No More UK and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases in the House of Commons in Westminster in the build up to World Malaria Day on 25th April.
James Whiting, Malaria No More UK's Executive Director from Micheldever, reflected: "UK leadership is playing a vital role in driving global progress against malaria, with remarkable results, including halving child deaths since 2000. Over 3 million children's lives have been saved by this campaign. Ongoing support is paramount so that we can be the generation to end deaths from malaria. What a global legacy that would be to future generations".
Pictured; Steve Brine is joined by James Whiting and Gabrielle Fitzgerald
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Twitter: @malarianomoreuk