Press release
Malaria No More Japan
April 25, 2024

The 11th Zero Malaria Award goes to Sysmex Corporationin recognition of contribution through the development anddissemination of a new malaria diagnostic device, the AutomatedHematology Analyzer XN-31
The Zero Malaria Special Award was awarded to the Asahi Shimbun
CompanyMalaria No More Japan (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairman of the Board: TakahiroShinyo), announced that the 11th Zero Malaria Award is awarded to the Sysmex
Corporation (Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; President: Kaoru Asano) on the World
Malaria Day, April 25.
Sysmex's Automated Hematology Analyzer XN-31 iscapable of measuring and quantitatively displaying
infected red blood cells, including those infected with
Plasmodium falciparum, and the measurement is fully
automated, requiring no advanced skills and enablinghighly sensitive testing in as little as one minute. The
XN-31 is the first Class III medical device in Japan to beapproved for use as a malaria diagnostic device (June2020), and was recognized in the following year as areference test method for reporting malaria patients under the Infectious DiseaseControl Law. The award was given in recognition of the evangelical impact thetechnology has had on the medical field as a diagnostic technology that leads toappropriate treatment and a favorable prognosis for malaria patients.
In accepting the award, the company commented, “Malaria is a disease for which
early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the number of deaths, but collaborationand cooperation are essential in the fight against malaria. Sysmex view this award
as an expectation for further contribution to achieving the goal of ‘Zero Malaria.’
We will continue to build on our partnership and promote the use of XN-31 as wellas efforts to strengthen local healthcare systems.”
The Asahi Shimbun Company (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Executive
Officer in charge of Editorial: Kengo Sakajiri) receives the“Zero Malaria Special Award” for its multifaceted reporting anddissemination of information on malaria control. In February
2023, the company launched “with Planet,” a new website
reporting on global health and development issues in the world,and has been covering and disseminating its efforts to address the three major
infectious diseases. In particular, with regard to malaria, in order to raise theinterest of as many people as possible in the fight against the disease, the company
has engaged in multifaceted coverage, including domestic and international, digitaland print, and text and non-text coverage. We are pleased to present this year'sSpecial Award in recognition of their multifaceted coverage and reporting onmalaria.
The award ceremony for the 11th Zero Malaria Award and Zero Malaria Special
Award was held on May 8 at the following venue in Tokyo.
Malaria No More Japan, the only civil society organization in Japan specializing inmalaria, hopes that the Zero Malaria Award will encourage more people to becomeaware of malaria and other infectious diseases and to take action.

What is the Zero Malaria Award?
Since its inception in 2014, the Zero Malaria Award has been presented toindividuals and organizations in all fields that are involved in activities that
contribute to the international community's goal of achieving zero malaria by 2030.
Please refer to the Appendix for past awards and visit the organization's website
for more information. https://malarianomore.jp/archives/category/award
Comments from Sysmex Corporation
We are very honored to receive such a prestigious
award. Sysmex has been dedicated to improving
access to healthcare by leveraging its technologies
cultivated in the testing and diagnostic fields such ashematology, developing products that are closelyaligned with local medical issues, and developing local
medical professionals. We believe that this award is inrecognition of such efforts and the unique andinnovative technology of the XN-31, which provides
useful test results for malaria diagnosis quickly,
easily, and with high accuracy.
Malaria is a disease for which early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the numberof deaths, but collaboration and cooperation are essential in the fight against thedisease. Sysmex view this award as an expectation for further contribution toachieving the goal of ‘Zero Malaria.’ We will continue to build on our partnershipand promote the use of XN-31 as well as efforts to strengthen local healthcare
systems. Sysmex will continue to focus on creating new value for a healthy society
by contributing to solving global health issues and to achieving UHC. (Photo:
Sysmex’s malaria diagnostic device installed at a medical institution in Coted'Ivoire)

Comments from The Asahi Shimbun CompanyThe Asahi Shimbun has covered and reported on malaria and otherinfectious diseases that affect the lives of people around the world.
In February last year, we launched a new website “with Planet”
within Asahi Shimbun Digital to report the global efforts to combat
malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis, the three major infectious
diseases that still claim many lives worldwide, as well as thehistory of “war malaria” in Okinawa that should be handed down
to future generations. In the morning edition of “GLOBE,” a special
feature on malaria, we reported on the current state of malaria
control in Kenya and the efforts of Japanese companies. Inaddition to the article, we held a session on “Climate Change andInfectious Diseases” using malaria as a starting point at the “Asahi

World Forum,” which we hosted, in order to involve various stakeholders and seek
solutions. We are very pleased to receive the “Zero Malaria Special Award” for theseefforts. Encouraged by this recognition, we will continue to shed light on and report onmalaria and other issues that need to be addressed on a global scale.”Award Ceremony Outline- Date: 11:00 - 11:30, May 8 (Wed.), 2024
- Venue: Kioi Conference Seminar Room, Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho(1-4 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094, Japan)-Access：https://conference.tgt-kioicho.jp/access/For inquiries from the media regarding this award, please contact toMalaria No More Japan Secretariat
Email： info@malarianomore.jp

Appendix
What is the Zero Malaria Award?
The Zero Malaria Award recognizes individuals and organizations that are working
to eliminate malaria. The award was established in 2014 by Malaria No More Japan,
to recognize individuals and organizations in all fields related to malaria, including
those who not only implement specific support projects, but also conduct research,disseminate information, and create ideas to increase awareness of the word“malaria”.
-The 1st winner in 2014: JCI (Junior Chamber International) Japan
Recognition of longstanding activities in cooperation with JCI's “Nothing But Nets”
campaign to send mosquito nets to children in Africa-The 2nd winner in 2015: Dr. Fumihiko Kawamoto, Professor Emeritus, Oita
University
For the development of the acridine orange-stained microscopy method and for hisworld-renowned research on the molecular epidemiology of malaria and G6PDdeficiency-The 3rd winner in 2016: Dr. Jun Kobayashi, Professor, University of the Ryukyus
For his activities in Asia, including conducting activities in Laos for many years-

The 4th winner in 2017: Publication of “Challengers to Malaria Eradication” written
by Eiiku Haibara which is published by Nanzansha
For the publication of the book “Challengers for Malaria Eradication,” which
introduces the reality of malaria in war by carefully focusing on the so-called “warmalaria” that remained until the end in Japan and the subsequent efforts to control
malaria in Okinawa Prefecture.

-The 5th winner in 2018: Utasuke Katsura, Rakugo Storyteller
For disseminating information on malaria and diseases carried by mosquitoes
through his creative rakugo story “Mosquito Sumo,” which was inspired by theKyogen play “Mosquito Sumo,” through Japanese traditional entertainment.

-The 6th winner in 2019: Asian Medical Innovation Consortium (AMIC) Malaria
Subcommittee
For specific efforts promoted by the AMIC to date in collaboration with industry,government, academia, and the private sector to control malaria in Asia and Africa.

-The 7th winner in 2020: Dr. Osamu Kunii, Director, Strategy, Investment and.
Impact Division, Global FundFor his long-standing contributions to the fight against infectious diseases andprojects.

-The 8th winner in 2021: Dr. Mika Saito, Assistant Professor, Graduate School ofMedicine, University of the Ryukyu, Representative of NGO team“Gajan”
In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the elimination of malaria from Yaeyama,and for attempts to communicate the great achievement of malaria elimination.

-The 9th winner in 2022: Dr. Akira Kaneko, Specially Appointed Professor, Graduate
School of Medicine, Osaka Public University
In recognition of his field research over the past 37 years in North Sumatra,Indonesia, Vanuatu Islands, Papua New Guinea, Malawi, Zanzibar, and LakeVictoria, Kenya

-The 10th winner in 2023: Yaeyama Zero Malaria Monument Erection Association
In recognition of their publicity and resident hygiene activities to erect the“Yaeyama Zero Malaria Monument” in Inoda Rural Park in northern Ishigaki Islandin 2022, to pass on the achievements made in Yaeyama to the next generation, tocommunicate them to the world, and to wish for peace without infectious diseases.

Photo is the award ceremony for the 2023 award-winning organizations.

About Malaria No More Japan
Malaria No More Japan (MNMJ) was established in 2012 as thebranch office of Malaria No More, headquartered in the UnitedStates, and is the only certified non-profit organization in Japan
specializing in malaria. As an international NGO with branches in
the United Kingdom as well as Japan, it aims to achieve a malaria-free world (= zeromalaria).
The three pillars of our activities are policy advocacy, communication, and promotion ofpartnerships to achieve zero malaria.
MNMJ Website：https://malarianomore.jp/