Supporting the Goals and Ideals of Malaria Awareness Day

Floor Speech

SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF MALARIA AWARENESS DAY -- (House of Representatives - May 04, 2009)

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Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As co-Chair with Chairman Payne of the Congressional Malaria Caucus and an original cosponsor of this resolution brought forth by Chairman Payne, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 103, which supports the goals and ideals of Malaria Awareness Day.

It is widely known that malaria was eradicated in the United States more than a half century ago. Less known is the fact that malaria still affects as many as half a billion people in 109 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and that malaria kills approximately 1 million to 3 million people per year.

Africa has been particularly hard hit. Ninety percent of all malaria deaths occur in Africa. It is the leading cause of death of children under the age of 5, claiming the lives of an estimated 3,000 African children per day. And because even mild cases of malaria can be debilitating, many businesses have been forced to hire two or more employees to fill a single position due to absenteeism. It is estimated that Africa loses $12 billion in productivity each year--all because of a wretched mosquito. But with the commitment of host countries and generous donor support--including through the President's Malaria Initiative; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the World Bank; private donors and nongovernmental organizations, including Malaria No More--we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Mass distributions of mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying, and the development and distribution of safe, effective and inexpensive drugs to treat malaria have yielded sharp declines in malaria-related deaths in a number of African countries. According to U.S. Malaria Coordinator, Admiral Tim Ziemer, ``These efforts are bringing newfound hope that malaria is not an intractable problem and giving children a fighting chance to improve their quality of life and build better futures.''

But we still have a long way to go.

Malaria Day serves as a call to arms--a day to mobilize resources and recommit ourselves to the fight against this preventable disease. It reminds us that with the steadfast commitment of donors, host governments, local leaders and the countless heroes who are fighting to roll back this scourge on the ground each and every day, we may live to see the elimination of malaria from the developing world.

I thank the sponsor, and my fellow co-Chair of the House Malaria Caucus, Mr. Payne, for introducing this important measure and for agreeing to modest, though critically important changes which enabled us to move the resolution directly to the House floor today. I appreciate the chairman's hard work and leadership combating this disease but also for his chairmanship of the Africa Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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