Mr. Issa Hayatou, President of CAF said during the dinner gala that the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa will be an important moment in the history of football. It will also be the moment when football will contribute to decreasing the burden of malaria on the African continent. The union of the UAM campaign and CAF will mean children across Africa will be able to access anti-malaria messages.

Football is one of the most popular sports in Africa and UAM is proud to be associated and working closely with CAF, CECAFA and FUFA in Uganda to disseminate malaria prevention and treatment messages. Said CECAFA Chairman Leodegar Tenga, “I am positive our success on the football field has been severely held back by malaria. More importantly, though, is the impact malaria has on our friends and families. I believe it is our duty as national football teams to do all we can to help stop deaths from this disease. I would ask my counterparts to do just one thing this year, help educate the public on the dangers of malaria.”

Malaria, a wholly preventable and treatable disease, kills 655,000 people worldwide every year due to malaria, mostly in Africa. The emergence of drug-resistant malaria is a serious threat to regional and global efforts to combat this public health challenge.

In Uganda, UAM has made a significant contribution towards reducing the malaria burden specifically working in partnership with various stakeholders including the Private sector corporates and the football fraternity. Under the UAM banner was spearheaded the launch of a new initiative called the “Private Sector Health Common Fund” (PSHCF) in partnership with Private Sector Foundation Uganda – PSFU aimed at complementing the already existing efforts of donors, the government and other stakeholders. The primary objective of the PSHCF is to create a sustainable mechanism whereby the private sector corporates, private foundations; entrepreneurs can contribute toward a common basket of resources that will be utilized to address critical health issues that affect the vulnerable population of Uganda.

Contacts:

Ken Mulondo, Voices Program Officer, Uganda, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Anna McCartney-Melstad, Voices Program Officer, South Africa, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About Malaria

Malaria is a disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. If left untreated, the infection in its most severe forms can lead to coma and death. Although malaria is preventable and treatable, it continues to kill a child every 60 seconds and 655,000 people globally each year. More than 90 percent of these deaths occur in Africa, and the majority of them are children under the age of five. Furthermore, malaria contributes to the cycle of poverty and limits economic development.

About United Against Malaria

United Against Malaria (UAM) is a partnership of football teams and heroes, celebrities, health and advocacy organizations, governments, corporations, and individuals who have united to win the fight against malaria. Our goal is to galvanize partners throughout the world to reach the international target of reducing deaths worldwide. To learn more about UAM, please visit www.UnitedAgainstMalaria.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Orange Africa Cup of Nations