For most children in Africa, mosquito bites that pass on malaria are a lethal threat. And now programs to combat this killer disease are at risk as a House appropriations subcommittee just bit off nearly 70 percent of the increase in the President’s request for malaria programs — an amount already short of our $1 billion a year commitment the U.S. made in 2008.
If action isn’t taken, malaria funding could be limited to $615 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, $70 million below the President’s request and far short of the Congressional promise to provide $1 billion a year. These cuts are not merely for the sake of fiscal austerity, as the committee provided increases above the President’s request in other accounts.
This is a critical moment and, for those of us who care about protecting children from this lethal disease, a time for action. It’s not too late to provide more funding for malaria, but Congress needs to hear that people care. The full House of Representatives will need to vote on the appropriations bill and the Senate has not taken action yet on the appropriations bill affecting global health. Action now could make all the difference.
Help us show Congress that there is a chorus of people who find it unacceptable to take a bite out of the resources that are literally saving lives. Take action now.
The $95 million “plus-up” is a sign that the Administration values the impact of malaria programs and remains committed to addressing this leading cause of child deaths worldwide even when times are tough. This message was reiterated during a call I had with White House officials regarding the global health budget more broadly earlier today.
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