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While great progress is being made against malaria in countries like Rwanda, about one million people still die every year of this preventable and treatable disease, mostly young children. Malaria imposes an enormous economic burden on families, communities and entire countries in Africa. Malaria-related health expenditures and lost productivity costs Africa’s economy an estimated $12 billion per year and significantly impacts foreign direct investment, tourism, labor productivity and trade.

Despite the tremendous economic challenge that malaria presents, cost-effective prevention and treatment tools are available, and rapid-scale up of these interventions have potential to result in millions of lives saved, hundreds of millions of malaria cases prevented, and produce tens of billions of dollars in economic returns.

Although the past five years have seen an unprecedented surge in international investment and political commitment for malaria control, totaling more than $1.1 billion in funding for malaria in 2008, it is estimated that $2.2 billion per year is needed for the next five years to achieve full coverage of prevention and treatment in the thirty highest malaria burden countries in Africa. In comparison to the current level of investment in malaria control, a rapid scale up approach with a $2.2 billion annual investment for five years would save twice as many lives for every dollar spent.

For every million dollars invested 186 more lives will be saved and 27,000 malaria cases averted.

Learn how you can get involved in the fight against malaria in Africa and around the world!