ExxonMobil donates $1 million to the President’s Malaria Initiative

by PegNews wire

IRVING — ExxonMobil announced today a donation of an additional $1 million to help USAID in its ongoing efforts to fight malaria in Angola. The new funding brings ExxonMobil’s commitment to organizations engaged in important community and social development projects in Africa to more than $150 million, which includes $55 million committed to programs to fight malaria through the company’s Africa Health Initiative.

The grant will support the President’s Malaria Initiative and will help train health-care workers in all aspects of malaria prevention and treatment, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups – pregnant women and young children. Since the initiation of the President’s Malaria Initiative in 2005 ExxonMobil has contributed $4 million to support its activities in Angola.

“World Malaria Day provides an opportunity to increase awareness and direct engagement in fighting the devastating consequences of this preventable disease,” said Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer of ExxonMobil. “I am very pleased that we have been able to mark this day by announcing our increased funding commitment for the President’s Malaria Initiative, which is a critical program in helping to reduce the toll of malaria.

“At ExxonMobil we know first hand the devastating impact that malaria is having in Africa, which suffers over 90 percent of global malaria cases and where it is the number one killer of young children. That is why we are committed to the fight and doing everything from helping to develop new drugs to distributing insecticide-treated nets to places where they are desperately needed.

“Despite the more difficult economic environment it is important that business takes a long term view with its community investments. With malaria in focus this week, we hope others will join us in supporting the Malaria Capital Campaign, which aims to raise $100 million to continue the fight against malaria. ExxonMobil has committed $10 million to help start the campaign.”

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by a parasite and transmitted to humans by the bite of a mosquito. With between 1 million and 3 million deaths annually and 3,000 children deaths daily, it remains one of the globe's leading infectious killers. The majority of its victims are children under the age of five and pregnant women.

Source: ExxonMobil