ExxonMobil has had a presence in Africa for over 100 years and we have witnessed firsthand the health and economic impact of malaria on our workforce, their families and the communities where we operate. We see how malaria traps families, communities and countries in cycles of disease and poverty. Improving health is a necessary foundation for economic growth and development and contributes to a stable and productive workforce.
Since the inception of the ExxonMobil Malaria Initiative in 2000, we have committed more than $68 million in funding for programs to fight malaria in 20 different African countries, making us the largest non-pharmaceutical corporate donor to malaria research and development efforts and the largest corporate donor to the President's Malaria Initiative. ExxonMobil’s funding supports partners that help improve the delivery and use of prevention tools such as bed nets; provide technical assistance to help countries significantly increase their capacity to control malaria; and facilitate the monitoring and promotion of progress through integrated communications methods.
The distribution of long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets has provided assistance to nearly 550,000 people in Angolan and Nigerian communities with a high prevalence of reported malaria cases. Research shows that when three-quarters of the people in a community use bed nets, the incidence of malaria infection decreases and the actual mosquito population is reduced by 90 percent. The malaria community has made progress in bed net distribution and production, with global production of bed nets increasing from 30 million in 2003 to 260 million in 2009. One of ExxonMobil’s partners, NetsforLife, has distributed 1 million bed nets in 15 African nations and estimates that these bed nets have saved the lives of about 27,000 children since 2009.
ExxonMobil believes that a multifaceted approach is necessary in order to tackle this disease, which includes the development of new medications. In partnership with Medicines for Malaria Venture and with funding from ExxonMobil, Novartis introduced Coartem Dispersible, the world’s first malaria medication for children — a milestone in malaria drug discovery.
ExxonMobil is also working to ensure that the countries affected by malaria are better equipped to fight the disease. With support from ExxonMobil and global experts, the Global Health Group at the University of California, San Francisco produced two breakthrough policy guides for governments. These invaluable guides offer recommendations, information on financing requirements and technical insight to help countries progress down the path of malaria elimination.
Our support is more than financial. We are actively partnering with governments and agencies in affected countries, empowering them to combat malaria with the same disciplined, results-based business practices that ExxonMobil employs in its global operations. For example, Dr. Steven C. Phillips, Medical Director, Global Issues and Projects at ExxonMobil, serves on the Board of Malaria No More. By serving in active roles, ExxonMobil is better able to share its extensive experience with workforce training, supply chain management and data collection, in-depth knowledge of economics and marketing, and knowhow of experts on staff with these organizations.
ExxonMobil is involved in a wide range of global initiatives that include partnerships with UN agencies, corporations, philanthropies, and non-governmental organizations to prevent, treat, and find a cure for this disease.
- NetsforLife, for distribution of nets to help fight malaria in sub-Saharan Africa;
- Accordia Global Health Foundation, identifies new ways to control malaria in resource-limited settings.
- ADPP Angola, organizes 4000 school children into Malaria Control Patrols to teach malaria prevention and correct use of mosquito nets.
- Africare, for malaria prevention and early treatment in Angola;
- Global Business Coalition - GBC, represents 225 top companies united with non-corporate organizations worldwide in fighting HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria;
- Global Health Group, works with a network of partners to provide support to countries globally in eliminating malaria;
- Harvard School of Public Health, works both in Afria and the U.S. to train researchers and public health officials and develop new ways to prevent and treat malaria;
- International Organization for Migration,
- PSI Malaria Control, provides malaria control support to Ministries of Health in more than 30 countries worldwide;
- Safe Blood for Africa, to help ensure a disease-free blood supply in Nigeria; and
- UNICEF, to increase the availability and use of bed nets by pregnant women and children under five years of age in Cameroon.
- ADPP Angola Africare Global Business Coalition - GBC Global Health Group Harvard School of Public Health International Organization for Migration Jhpiego Malaria No More Malaria Vaccine Initiative - MVI Medicines for Malaria Venture - MMV Nets for Life PSI Malaria Control Pathfinder's International Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership UN Foundation Nothing But Nets USAID