World Malaria Day is a day designed to recognize global efforts to combat malaria. It was established by the World Health Organization in 2007, and has been commemorated every year since on April 25th. Each year World Malaria Day has a specific theme, and this year’s theme, developed by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, is Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria. This theme encompasses the ambitious goals of Roll Back Malaria, the WHO, and other organizations, corporations, grassroots organizations, and individuals are working toward.

And these goals are ambitious. According to the World Health Organization, “The new strategy aims to reduce malaria cases and deaths by 90% by 2030 from current levels. Four countries have been certified free of malaria in the last decade and the post- 2015 strategy sets the goal of eliminating the disease from a further 35 countries by 2030.”

Though massive gains have been made in the anti-malaria movement over the past decade, malaria remains a disease that is causing devastation in countries, communities, and families around the world. In Africa, Malaria is still claiming the lives of almost half a million children under the age of 5 annually. Something has to be done.

This year, on World Malaria Day, help spread the word. Tell your friends, your coworkers. Tweet about it, share a post. Get active. Below are some links that will enable you to begin exploring the many ways involved:

1. Mosquitoes Suck: The Tour – Offering basic donation opportunities, fundraising options (check out the “Beans That Count” fundraiser!), and teaching and advocacy. You can even book a Mosquitoes Suck Tour stop at your school!

2. Nothing But Nets provides you with the tools you need start a sporting challenge to raise money. The sky’s the limit here, from soccer games to swimming laps to hosting your own 5K. Not into sports? No problem, they offer other opportunities to get involved here.

Resources: 

WHO

Don’t Bite Me

Nothing But Nets

Nothing But Nets: Act Now 

Instagram