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Fight against malaria needs everyone's attention, United Methodists say

Nov. 2, 2005

NOTE: Photographs and video are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Linda Bloom*

NEW YORK (UMNS) - Bishop Joao Somane Machado sees children in Mozambique
dying of malaria on a daily basis and he wants the world to pay
attention.

"This is not an African issue," said Machado, who leads the United
Methodist Church in Mozambique. "It's not only for poor countries. It's
global."

The bishop and the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the United
Methodist Board of Global Ministries, spoke about the church's new
initiative to combat malaria during a Nov. 1 press conference in New
York. They were joined by the Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback
Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and author of the bestselling book, The
Purpose-Driven Life.

The press conference occurred during the opening of the Nov. 1-3 TIME
Global Health Summit, which is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation. The summit drew together leaders in medicine, government,
business, public policy and the arts to discuss how to make real change
on global health issues.

On Oct. 30, the Gates Foundation announced the funding of three grants,
for a total of $258.3 million, to fight malaria through the development
of an advanced vaccine, new drugs for treatment and improved
insecticides and other mosquito control methods.

In 2004, some 4,000 children in Mozambique died from malaria and Machado
hopes those who have united to confront the HIV/AIDS pandemic will also
work on malaria. Both diseases are infecting the youth of that country.

"When we talk about poverty, about fighting poverty, we need these young
people tomorrow," the bishop said.

Education is key to eradicating malaria in Africa, according to Machado.
Using solar-powered or wind-up radios and community radio stations can
help provide such education, he noted.

While malaria affects 40 percent of the world's population - resulting
in a million deaths a year -- 90 percent of those cases can be found in
sub-Saharan Africa, Day reported.

That is why education and action on this preventable disease is needed
there and Day particularly hopes U.S. churches will participate in the
new initiative. "No one, absolutely no one, needs to die of malaria in
the world today," he said.

The United Methodist Community Based Malaria Prevention Program will be
launched in Sierra Leone in early December. Participants from seven
countries will come for training at the denomination's Maternity and
Health Center in Kissy.

Cherian Thomas, M.D., an executive with the Board of Global Ministries'
health and welfare unit, is in charge of the program, which will be
administered through the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Church-related health facilities, schools and other institutions, as
well as congregations will help meet the program's goals, which include
promoting the effective use of insecticide-treated nets, preventative
drugs and the control of mosquito-breeding areas. The cost can be as
inexpensive as $5 for a bed net and $30 for a radio.

Warren, whose ministry is linked to countries around the world, believes
that local churches and church members can provide a universal
distribution network to help eradicate malaria.

It has been shown, he said, that money and medicine are not enough to
stop the spread of malaria. "What is lacking is motivation and
mobilization," he added. "Those are the things keeping people in poverty
and ill health."

A special fund for the United Methodist Community Based Malaria
Prevention Program has been established with the denomination's Advance
for Christ and His Church, a "second-mile" voluntary giving program. The
Advance Special offers a way for United Methodists to participate in the
malaria program as individuals or through local churches, districts and
conferences. As a mission project, the program touches upon issues of
health care, poverty and the needs of children.

Donations, payable to the United Methodist Committee on Relief, should
be designated to Advance No. 982009, "Malaria Control." Checks can be
dropped in church collection plates or mailed directly to UMCOR at P.O.
Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Credit-card gifts can be made by
calling (800) 554-8583 or going online to www.methodistrelief.org.

UMCOR also has prepared a church bulletin insert on the malaria program
that can be downloaded from www.umcor.org by clicking on the resources
link.

For more information, visit the United Methodist Church's Website at
www.umc.org.

*Bloom is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in New York.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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