fighting the spread of malaria

The global community recognizes that the battle against malaria is crucial to the development of poor countries and the alleviation of poverty. In this regard, ExxonMobil's Africa Health Initiative is helping to fulfill the U.N. Millennium Development Goals and the targets set by African leaders in the Abuja Declaration of 2000.

Roll Back Malaria — a global partnership of UN agencies, the World Bank, foundations, governments, and the private sector — focuses on four approaches to help communities combat the disease: prevention of malaria in pregnancy, controlling mosquitoes, rapidly diagnosing and treating malaria, and swiftly responding to emergencies and epidemics. ExxonMobil serves as one of two private sector representatives on the board of Roll Back Malaria.

In addition to existing measures, there must be more investment in the research and development of new drugs and vaccines. Malaria is increasingly resistant to existing old-line medicines, requiring the development of new treatments. Scientists are working to develop an effective antimalarial vaccine that could offer long-lasting protection and prevent the spread of the disease.