We did it - Together!

$15 million raised! For several years, the ELCA has been committed to educating ourselves about one of the world’s deadliest diseases. And hand in hand with companions and partners in Africa, we are doing something about it! Together, we have raised $15 million to support malaria programs in Africa.

15 million reasons to say “thank you!” That means 15 million reasons to say “thank you!” 15 million reasons to say “thank you!”

Thanks to your gifts to the ELCA Malaria Campaign, we have been able to support malaria programs of Lutheran church bodies and Lutheran development organizations in 13 African countries: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These programs– supported by your gifts—have changed millions of lives.

More than 2 million community members have been educated Thanks to you, Lutheran malaria programs have reached more than 2 million people with education about malaria prevention and control. More than 2 million community members have been educated

Nearly 50,000 insecticide-treated bed nets distributed Thanks to you, malaria programs have distributed nearly 50,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets and empowered families to use and maintain them correctly. Nearly 50,000 insecticide-treated bed nets distributed

More than 32,000 expectant mothers received preventive malaria treatment during pregnancy Thanks to you, more than 32,000 pregnant women have received “Intermittent Preventative Therapy for Pregnant Women,” or IPTp, which protects women and their babies from malaria during the pregnancy. Tens of thousands of babies have been born healthy!

More than 160,000 people tested for malaria Thanks to you, malaria programs have used Rapid Diagnostic Testing to test more than 160,000 people for malaria. About 40,000 of these people tested positive and received medication on the spot. More than 160,000 people tested for malaria

More than 12,000 households economically empowered Thanks to you, more than 12,000 participants have joined Village Savings and Loan Associations or have invested in income-generating activities. These activities stabilize household income and allow families to afford adequate health care and malaria prevention supplies. More than 12,000 households economically empowered

45 million fewer malaria infections each year Through the efforts of Lutherans and others worldwide, cases of malaria have gone down dramatically. There are now 45 million fewer malaria infections each year!

Death rate from malaria in Africa slashed in half In the year 2000, a child died of malaria every thirty seconds. Since that time, the hard work of Lutherans and others has dramatically slowed this death rate. Now we lose only one child a minute. While this is still sobering news, it’s incredible to think that malaria’s death rate has been slashed in half.

Beyond 2015 And so we celebrate our success and our generosity with much joy, and at the same time we recommit ourselves to walking together with our global companions as they attend to the spiritual and physical needs of their neighbors. Though our fundraising campaign efforts for malaria have ended, our commitment to our companions will not end. Our global Lutheran partners who would like to continue– or begin!– malaria programming in the coming years will seek funding through ELCA World Hunger, which has a long history of supporting health-related programming. Support for malaria work continues through ELCA World Hunger

Thank you! Thank you for your generosity! Thank you for your prayer! Thank you for your advocacy, your encouragement, your continuing support. Together, we are making malaria history!