Rotary Club of Seattle and PATH partner on malaria control efforts
The Rotary Club of Seattle is partnering with PATH to launch a new initiative to support intensive malaria control efforts in Africa. Building on Rotary’s local and national networks, the partnership will help strengthen the capacity of communities and national programs to ensure that insecticide-treated bednets and other important services are delivered to those who need them the most. This initiative is being launched in celebration of the start of the Seattle Rotary Club’s second century of service and builds on the organization’s longstanding tradition of humanitarian work, such as distributing aid and food, supporting polio eradication efforts, creating educational opportunities for youth, and improving standards of living, both in the United States and internationally.
Dr. Kent Campbell, director of PATH’s malaria control programming, will provide the keynote address at the Rotary meeting in Seattle this Wednesday, June 10. Dr. Campbell will be joining speakers Bill Gates Sr. and Rotary Club President Nancy Sclater, as Ms. Sclater announces the official formation of this new partnership.
Since 2005, PATH, through the Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA) project, has been working with Zambia and several other countries to rapidly scale up and sustain the impact of national malaria control programs. In just two years, Zambia’s partnership efforts have cut in half rates of malaria infection in children under age five, while cases of severe anemia have decreased by nearly 70 percent. This dramatic success is due to committed national leadership and strong, united partnerships: the long-term success of the country’s program relies, in part, on engaging new partners from the civic and business communities to help sustain impact and maintain high levels of commitment. Together, PATH and the Rotary Club of Seattle will build a replicable model for engaging volunteer service organizations to enhance malaria control efforts worldwide.