Remarks by Admiral R. Timothy Ziemer
United States Malaria Coordinator
The White House Summit on Malaria
Washington, D.C.
December 14, 2006
Mrs. Bush, distinguished guests, friends and colleagues in the fight against malaria.
It's my distinct honor to lead President Bush's malaria initiative. It's an initiative led by USAID combined with the centers for diseases control and prevention in Atlanta that forms an incredible team. Focused on 15 African countries, it is committed to forging and leading successful partnerships with international organizations, with civic and faith-based groups, and with other donors. Ultimately, though, the most important partner is the country itself. While the PMI demonstrates the commitment of the American people by providing life-saving medicines, distribution of nets and support of a more aggressive spraying program, including the proper and judicious use of DDT, its primary aim is to assist endemic countries to build and maintain their own successful malaria control programs.
Before I took this job, a respected friend and colleague asked what I was going to be doing. When I told him, he responded by saying, "there's too much suffering, in the world, there's too much red tape and bureaucracy in the government… You can't make a difference. Don't take the job." The challenge of malaria can appear insurmountable, but it's a challenge we must meet and I cannot think of a better place than to stand here with you.
In June 2005, when President Bush took up the challenge of malaria, his initiative issued something akin to a wake-up call to the world, challenging governments, foundations, businesses, and multilateral organizations to put actions behind our rhetoric and help end the suffering of millions. The First Lady is a remarkable leader and champion for this cause, and has done so much to build awareness and increase global support.
As a follow on the First Lady's announcement of the malaria communities program, I am looking forward to working with Jay Hein of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to host a follow-on meeting with interfaith leaders to tap into their talents and human potential and to learn how we can effectively work with African faith and civic partnerships.
This is just one aspect of engaging broader faith and community based efforts in the malaria communities program.
I also appreciate the U.S. Congress's support of the PMI and we look forward to their continued support of the President's budget request for the PMI. It is important to note that the PMI this funding and programming is in addition to the $459 million in malaria control programs paid for by American taxpayers through our contributions to the Global Fund. And that is in addition to the resources we commit through the World Bank, UNICEF, the World Health Organization. And other institutions with which we are proud to be partners.
The PMI is being implemented with unprecedented speed, and I view it as something of an emergency response. That urgency is justified and it's paying off. By the end of November 2006, 6 million are benefiting from PMI prevention and treatment programs in the first three focus countries. We will launch new programs in coming months in the next four focus countries, reaching many millions more.
in line with Ambassador Tobias' leadership, the PMI is based on his core principles of efficiency, accountability and transparency. Success measured on outcomes - lives saved, not dollars spent. The ultimate success of the PMI though will be judged by the effectiveness of the partnerships we build.
You'll note that the power of partnerships is an important and unifying theme today. To punctuate that we are privileged to have two individuals share with us how the PMI and their efforts are clearly making a difference.
(introduction of speakers)
Thank you both for your comments and for your good work. The key message we must keep in mind is that we are all part owners in this collective fight against malaria. We cannot do this alone. No one can.
Another example of effective partnership is in Uganda, where malaria no more, generously committed $2 million for the purchase of more than 300,000 long-lasting nets. Their contribution, leveraged with $ 1.2mm from PMI, and large grants from the Global Fund, will support a massive national net distribution campaign in direct support of Uganda's national malaria control plan.
We must come together like this to leverage the expertise, finances and abilities of our international and African partners, to build local capacity and to defeat this killer.
We have the tools, the leadership, and the funding to reduce deaths now. With at least a million lives at stake just in the next 12 months alone, I believe our collective success or failure will be our legacy. That is why we are here, together, united in our resolve to save countless lives that otherwise would be lost.
With this in mind it is time to invite the distinguished speakers on the multi-lateral panel to join me on stage. These individuals lead organizations that have the mission, disciplines, resources and technical capacity to advance malaria control efforts with our African partners.
(introduction of panelists and panel discussion)
The task before us is to combine and coordinate efforts and move forward with urgency and focus. We have a remarkable and unique opportunity to really make progress against malaria in Africa… we must build on the momentum that we have… and hold each other accountable on results.
While I'm encouraged by the progress that we've seen recently, I'm sobered by the fact that this is a monumental effort. It will be a long term fight with many challenges, but there's reason to be hopeful. Together we can be more effective, together we can raise more resources, and together we can save more lives. We have a moral imperative to work towards that end.
Now I have the honor of introducing Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. She is a distinguished business leader who is now directing her energy to build awareness and significantly address public health threats worldwide. We are grateful to have her leadership, partnership and support in this global fight against malaria. Please join me in welcoming Melinda Gates.
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