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MDG Inspiration Fund launched to fight malaria, other preventable diseases
Fund set to raise $3 million by the end of 2009
[Episcopal News Service] The MDG Inspiration Fund will save lives and fight disease, Robert Radtke, president of Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), told the Episcopal Church's Executive Council during its meeting in Dearborn, Michigan at the October 26 launching of the Fund.
"If we reach our MDG Inspiration Fund goal we will be able to protect nearly 700,000 people from malaria," Radtke announced.
The MDG Inspiration Fund is a partnership forged among ERD, Jubilee Ministries of the Episcopal Church, and the Executive Council to raise $3 million by the end of 2009 to fight malaria and other preventable diseases.
"ERD is delighted to be doing this work on behalf of the Episcopal Church, but we need the help of everyone to reach the goal," Radtke said.
The focus of the initiative is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an eight-prong declaration that aims to cut world poverty in half by the year 2015. The United States is one of nearly 200 countries dedicated to the MDGs. In 2003, the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church formally endorsed the MDGs, and at its next meeting in 2006, the 75th General Convention named the goals as top mission priority.
The MDG Inspiration Fund was created to address MDGs 4, 5, and 6, which call for a reduction in child mortality, improvement in maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other preventable diseases. Malaria is a common tropical disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, that kills one million people every year, mostly children. In Africa, the daily death toll is 3,000 children.
Radtke explained the MDG Inspiration Fund is a congregation-based initiative and strives to work with clergy, laity, church-based groups and organizations.
Previously, the Executive Council designated $924,000 to the MDG Inspiration Fund. Since that time, ERD has received additional contributions, bringing the total to date to $1,329,739 million.
"I am happy to report that the Fund is nearly half-way to its goal to fight malaria and other diseases in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean," Radtke said, noting that the Fund will earmark $2 million of the total $3 million in support of ERD's NetsforLifeSM program, a partnership for malaria prevention in 16 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a possible pilot malaria program in Asia.
"Our NetsforLifeSM program is going from success to success as it delivers one million long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets in Africa," Radtke said.
ERD is an implementing partner in NetsforLifeSM, which promotes an integrated prevention model, building community awareness about malaria, training people on proper use of the nets and educating communities to seek treatment while advocating for better access to drug therapies. This program is being carried out in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, ExxonMobil Foundation, and other supporters.
With the remaining $1 million, ERD will target programs for global health issues including, but not limited to, malaria prevention. These programs will engage Jubilee Centers on the ground in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Millennium Development Goals, focused on the developing world, are: 1) eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; 2) achieve universal primary education; 3) promote gender equality and empower women; 4) reduce child mortality; 5) improve maternal health; 6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; 7) ensure environmental sustainability; 8) develop a global partnership for development.
Further information about the MDG Inspiration Fund is available here. To order materials for congregations, visit http://www.episcopalbookstore.org or call 800-903-5544.
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