Funded through the President's Malaria Initiative by a grant worth nearly $2 million, TAM is expected to reach 1.5 million Mozambicans in Zambesia province. More than 250 faith leaders from ten religions will learn how to provide health education, train other individuals and mobilize their faith communities to work together in combating the spread of malaria, according to a news release from the cathedral.

The Cathedral's Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation (CGJR) is providing technical support for the program.

"With the entire population of Mozambique at risk for this disease, including an estimated 3.6 million children under the age of five and 900,000 pregnant women, Washington National Cathedral is a committed partner in fighting malaria," said Jean Duff, the center's deputy director. "We are grateful to First Lady Laura Bush for her support."

On-the-ground management of TAM comes through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), while the interfaith coalition, the Inter-Religious Campaign Against Malaria in Mozambique (IRCMM), will implement the program.

IRCMM members include leaders from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Islamic Congress of Mozambique, the Islamic Council of Mozambique, the Anglican Church, the United Methodist Church, the Hindu Community, Assemblies of God, the Christian Council of Mozambique, and the Baha'i Community.

Six million cases of malaria are reported each year in Mozambique, contributing to the country's poverty by reducing productivity.

The text of Laura Bush's June 27 announcement in Mozambique is available here.