If you’ve kept an eye on social media this World Malaria Day then by now I imagine you’ve discovered the Secret CEO’s true identity. The ruthless tycoon and star of Malaria No More UK’s campaign film is malaria. This World Malaria Day, it’s time to put him out of business – permanently.
Half a million bright young minds a year? Well, like all unscrupulous businessmen he’s inflated his numbers – but not by much. Malaria killed 429,000 people in 2015, and this cruel disease still claims the life of a child every two minutes. We all know about the catastrophic human cost of malaria, but this World Malaria Day, the Secret CEO brings our focus to malaria’s impact on global business and livelihoods. The moral case to end malaria is clear – we now have a business case too.
The 212 million cases of malaria in 2015 led to a staggering loss of life, but also caused countless lost school days and lost income. Malaria can hold back a country’s GDP by as much as 1.3% per annum, as our new report shows. In fact, the disease caused an estimated loss of £524 billion from global GDP between 2000 and 2015. Yet, if the world were to meet the currently agreed targets to reduce malaria, some $4 trillion of additional economic output would be generated over the next 15 years. Now that would be something.
But recent developments are encouraging. Since last World Malaria Day, both Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka have been declared malaria free by the World Health Organisation. We’ve got malaria on the run, but we can’t stop now.
This amazing progress means now is the perfect time to look ahead to the how we activate the global plan agreed by the World Health Organization – what we’re calling the #MalariaGameplan: a plan to build on the gains made; a plan to stop malaria from creeping back; a plan to finish the job.
· Reduce malaria cases by at least 90% by 2030.
· Reduce malaria deaths by at least 90% by 2030.
· Eliminate malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030.
· Prevent a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free.
The goal of ending malaria for good is realistic and affordable. In the last five years, new cases have fallen by 21% and deaths glo…. We are shrinking the malaria map, one country at a time.
Bold leadership is central to our vision of a malaria-free world. That’s why today we’re launching the Malaria No More Leaders Circle, inviting businesses and individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and sectors to play a key role in championing the fight to end malaria.
Our Leaders are extremely important to us – particularly as we head towards a general election in the UK. Our Leaders help to fund and resource our most vital initiatives. I invite you to join the Malaria No More Leaders’ Circle and become part of a collective effort to put malaria out of business for good. Together we can save lives, enhance economies and prevent untold heartache. Will you bring your leadership to this ambitious but achievable mission?
