Champions to end malaria
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At a reception to launch the exhibit, the Secretary-General thanked the sponsors of the exhibit: the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, ExxonMobil Foundation, Time Magazine and the UN Foundations' Nothing But Nets Campaign. He also paid tribute to Platon, Daniel Cima and the other photographers that "have created beautiful, revealing images". "Our gains in the fight against malaria are showing how much is possible with smart policies, targeted interventions, resources, and commitment", the Secretary-General said in remarks. "Millions of protective bed nets have found their way to men, women and children in need. Thanks to these and other inventions, malaria deaths dropped by almost 10 per cent globally in the past year alone", he added. The exhibit features photos of 25 people who have had an impact on curtailing this terrible disease that kills a child every 45 seconds. Some are well known to United Nations staff members – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Ted Turner, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Malaria Ray Chambers, Tony Blair, George W. Bush, Congolese basketball legend Dikembe Mutombo, and South African musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka. Others are less widely known, but have had a tremendous impact in the fight against malaria. Sports columnist Rick Reilly, featured in the exhibit, was the UN Foundation’s inspiration behind the "Nothing But Nets Campaign". He challenged any reader who had "ever jumped over a net, watched the New Jersey Nets, worn a hair net, or surfed the net" to contribute $10 towards bed nets. In less than a month, his readers responded with one million dollars in contributions. Boy Scout Nathaniel Stafford brought attention to the disease in his home state of North Carolina. He hiked 100 miles in nine days, across five counties, to raise money and awareness for the fight against malaria.
Katherine Commale and her mother have raised almost $200,000 for bed nets. To view the exhibit in its entirety, and read about the champions featured, please click here . The exhibit is also featured in the 28 April edition of The New Yorker ( click here to see it ). For information on how to contribute to the "Nothing But Nets Campaign", please refer to http://www.nothingbutnets.net |
On 25 April, the United Nations celebrated the fourth World Malaria Day under the theme "Achieving Progress and Impact". To commemorate the day, an exhibit featuring photos of "Champions to End Malaria" was launched at UNHQ in New York. The exhibit will be on display through 22 May and can be viewed by