Fight against malaria needs everyone’s attention, United Methodists say
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A UMNS Photo by John Goodwin Bishop Joao Somane Machado of Mozambique says that education and communication is part of the cure for malaria.
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United
Methodist Bishop Joao Somane Machado of Mozambique discusses the
church’s new initiative to combat malaria during the opening of the Nov.
1-3 TIME Global Health Summit in New York. Machado, who sees children
in Mozambique dying of malaria on a daily basis, says he wants the world
to pay attention. “This is not an African issue,” he said. “It’s not
only for poor countries. It’s global.” A UMNS photo by John C. Goodwin. Photo number 05-731, Accompanies UMNS #615. 11/2/05 |
Nov. 2, 2005
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.
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A UMNS Photo by John Goodwin The Rev. R. Randy Day, addressing the TIME Global Health Summit, says every thirty seconds a child dies of malaria.
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The
Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries, discusses the church’s new initiative to combat
malaria during the opening of the Nov. 1-3 TIME Global Health Summit in
New York. The summit drew together leaders in medicine, government,
business, public policy and the arts to discuss how to make real changes
on global health issues. A UMNS photo by John C. Goodwin. Photo number 05-732, Accompanies UMNS #615. 11/2/05 |
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.
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A UMNS Photo by John Goodwin The
Rev. R. Randy Day (left), Bishop Joao Somane Machado of Mozambique
(center) and the Rev. Rick Warren address a press conference at the TIME
Global Health Summit in New York.
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The
Rev. R. Randy Day (left), chief executive of the United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries, Bishop Joao Somane Machado of Mozambique (center)
and the Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest,
Calif., and author of the bestselling book, The Purpose-Driven Life,
address a press conference at the TIME Global Health Summit in New York.
A UMNS photo by John C. Goodwin. Photo number 05-733, Accompanies UMNS
#615. 11/2/05 |
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.umc.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 Web site 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
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Video Clips
Bishop Joao Somane Machado: "It is possible to end malaria"
The Rev. R. Randy Day: "Every 30 seconds a child dies of malaria"
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