Wednesday, June 4, 2008

ExxonMobil receives 2008 Malaria Award from Global Business Coalition

By Pegasus News wire

IRVING — Exxon Mobil Corporation announced today that it has been awarded the 2008 Malaria Award by the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in recognition of the corporation’s Africa Health Initiative and its role in the battle against malaria.

Photo not provided by ExxonMobil

Exxon has led in the way in the fight against the massive mosquito problem in Africa

“The prospects for winning the fight against global epidemics are stronger now than ever before,” said Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, president and chief executive officer of Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, a group of more than 220 companies that leverage the private sector’s reach and skills to keep epidemics on the global agenda.

“Business action is making a critical difference, and ExxonMobil is showing the world what strategic private sector interventions against malaria can achieve. We need many, many more to make their own contribution.”

ExxonMobil is one of nine companies to be honored at an event in New York on June 10 that will feature UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon; Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS; President Jorge Sampaio, UN Special Envoy for Tuberculosis; Ray Chambers, UN special envoy for malaria; Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and many others.

Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation, said he was proud of the recognition by the Global Business Coalition, but equally proud of the difference the corporation’s efforts are making in the fight against malaria.

“In the eight years since we launched our African Health Initiative, the way the world thinks about malaria has changed,” said Tillerson. “We understand through our employees in Africa what an impact malaria has on peoples’ lives and the community’s economic development. We are committed to winning the battle against malaria.”

ExxonMobil claims that it is the largest non-pharmaceutical corporate donor to malaria research and development efforts and has committed more than $130 million to organizations engaged in important community and social development projects in Africa, which includes $50 million to the fight against malaria through the company’s Africa Health Initiative.

Source: ExxonMobil

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