H. Res. 389 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 27, 2008. 

Whereas, despite malaria being completely preventable and 

treatable and the fact that malaria was eradicated from 

the United States over 50 years ago, more than 40 percent of the world’s population is still at risk of contracting malaria; 

Whereas more than one million people die from malaria each 

year, the vast majority of whom are children under the 

age of five in Africa; 

Whereas 350 million to 500 million cases of malaria occur 

annually; 

Whereas every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria, and 

more than 3,000 children die from malaria every day; 

Whereas 90 percent of deaths from malaria occur in Africa; 

Whereas pregnant women living with malaria and their children are particularly vulnerable: malaria is a major cause 

of complications during delivery, anemia, and low birth 

weights; 

Whereas malaria costs African countries an estimated $12 

billion in lost economic productivity each year; 

Whereas heightened efforts to prevent and treat malaria are 

currently saving lives; 
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•HRES 389 EH 

Whereas funding for the control of malaria has increased tenfold since 2000 in large part due to funding under the 

President’s Malaria Initiative (a United States Government initiative designed to cut malaria deaths in half in 

target countries in sub-Saharan Africa), the Global Fund 

to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World 

Bank, and new financing by other donors; 

Whereas in just 18 months, the President’s Malaria Initiative 

has purchased over one million artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT), protected over three million 

people through spraying campaigns, and distributed over 

one million insecticide-treated bed nets; the Global Fund 

to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has distributed 

18 million bed nets to protect families from malaria and 

provided 5.3 million malaria patients with ACTs; and the 

World Bank’s Booster Program is scheduled to commit 

approximately $500 million in International Development 

Association funds for malaria control in Africa; 

Whereas public and private partners are developing effective 

and affordable drugs to treat malaria, with more than 23 

types of malaria vaccines in development; 

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, vector control, or the prevention of malaria 

transmission via anopheles mosquitoes, which includes a 

combination of methods such as insecticide-treated bed 

nets, indoor residual spraying, and source reduction (larval control), has been shown to reduce severe morbidity 

and mortality due to malaria in endemic regions; 

Whereas insecticide-treated bed nets have been shown to reduce all-cause mortality by about 20 percent in community-wide trials in several African settings; 
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•HRES 389 EH 

Whereas in Africa, where 90 percent of malaria deaths occur, 

many of those suffering most from malaria—the rural 

poor—cannot afford even the modest cost ($5) of an insecticide-treated bed net; 

Whereas a malaria-free future will rely on a comprehensive 

approach addressing the range of health, development, 

and economic challenges facing developing countries; and 

Whereas April 25 of each year is recognized internationally 

as Africa Malaria Day and in the United States as Malaria Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) supports the goals and ideals of Malaria Awareness Day; and 

(2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, 

and activities to raise awareness and support to save the 

lives of those affected by malaria. 

Attest: 

Clerk.