Malaria Advocates Are Worried About Eradication Funding Under President Trump

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 20 (Reuters)- When it comes to fighting malaria, Bill Gates and Ray Chambers are both inspired and concerned: With victory in sight, will the world’s new leaders commit to finally beating this persistent parasite? In exclusive interviews with Reuters in Davos, Gates and Chambers both voiced concern about leadership changes in the U.S. and in United Nations bodies and what these might mean for funding and commitment to global health. “The imponderable is what happens with President Trump,” said Chambers, the United Nations special envoy for malaria. “We’re just not sure.” Falls in deaths and infections due to the mosquito-borne parasite in the past 15 years are “one of the greatest success stories in the history of public health”, Chambers said. And Gates, whose Gates Foundation commits vast funds to global health projects, said the world has never been closer to ending malaria “once and for all.” But with the disease still killing a child in Africa every few minutes, those eager to finish the job are worried that the presidency of the United States ― a crucial funding source for international malaria control efforts ― is now passing to a man whose commitment to global health projects is uncertain. And with looming leadership changes at organizations key to global health and development aid ― the heads of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the Global Fund to Fight AID...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news