Faith communities mobilised in global fight against malaria

Around 750,000 people die each year from malaria, the majority of deaths occurring among young children in Africa. Many of the deaths could be prevented if those at risk had access to lifesaving bed nets, malaria tests and effective drugs.

The Faiths Act for Malaria initiative is mobilising faith communities to work together to save more people from malaria and demonstrate faith as a force for good.

The initiative is asking people in more than 100 countries to organise multi-faith fundraisers in the run-up to World Malaria Day on April 25.

The money raised will be used to buy bed nets, which play a crucial part in preventing infection.

Just £5 will cover the cost of buying and delivering one bed net to a family in Africa that can protect two people from malaria.

Tony Blair is urging people to take part in the campaign: “This generation has the opportunity to do two astonishing things: to work together alongside those of other faiths from all corners of the world and to meet one of the world’s greatest global health challenges – malaria.

“We are asking people of all faiths to face this challenge together.”

Faiths Act is asking people to wear ribbons to raise awareness and Sumitomo Chemical has offered to donate an ‘Olyset’ Net to Malaria No More UK for every 10 people pictured wearing a Faiths Act ribbon.

Adam Flynn, of Sumitomo Chemical UK, said: “Sumitomo Chemical are delighted to support this campaign with Olyset nets as we firmly believe that faith communities have a galvanising and central role to play in ending malaria deaths and sickness across the endemic world.”