Presbyterian Malaria Vaccine Advocacy Team hosts webinar on World Malaria Day
The team is working with the Office of Public Witness and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations to help raise awareness and legislative support
Editor’s note: Every year, malaria claims more than 600,000 lives — most of them children under five in Africa. This World Malaria Day, join healthcare leaders and advocates for a free webinar to explore how newly approved vaccines are changing the fight against this deadly disease.
LAFAYETTE, California — Africa Mission Networks affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will host a nationwide webinar on April 25, World Malaria Day. The event aims to encourage U.S. legislative support for funding newly approved malaria vaccines for low-income countries.
In collaboration with the PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness, the Presbyterian Malaria Vaccine Advocacy Team (PMVAT) is advocating for continued U.S. government support of vaccine access through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The webinar will emphasize bipartisan congressional support for vaccine distribution in low-income nations as a cost-effective way to combat preventable child and maternal deaths.
This free online event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time on April 25 and is open to all. Interested participants can register here.
Malaria continues to be a global health crisis, causing over 600,000 deaths annually, with 95% of fatalities occurring in Africa. Children under five account for four out of five malaria-related deaths. The webinar will spotlight two life-saving malaria vaccines recently approved by the World Health Organization and their potential to significantly reduce deaths and suffering caused by the disease.
The program will also focus on building relationships and engaging communities. Attendees will learn about the work of the Office of Public Witness and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. These organizations promote a partner-led approach to global mission and development, effective advocacy strategies, and preparedness for future health emergencies.
A panel of experts in global healthcare delivery and human rights advocacy will discuss how to implement vaccine distribution in African countries and stop the spread of malaria.
- The Rev. Dr. Mwawi Chilongozi, General Secretary of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) in Malawi, will provide a theological reflection on biblical views of healing. She is known for her leadership in advancing gender equality, alleviating rural poverty through microfinance initiatives, and supporting theological education for women.
- Dr. Serge Makolo, director of Mulami Muimpe Eye Clinic in Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo, and former director of IMCK (Christian Medical Institute of the Kasai), will share his experiences addressing malaria as a leading health issue in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Malaria remains the primary cause of illness and death in the DRC, particularly among children and pregnant women.
- Dr. Nyaah Fidelis, Health Service Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, will discuss Cameroon’s rollout of the RTS S malaria vaccine as part of its Expanded Programme on Immunisation. Cameroon became the first country outside pilot programs to integrate this vaccine into routine immunization services on January 22, 2024. The program targets children under five years old in high-risk districts, administering four doses alongside other childhood vaccines.
- Courtney Burks, Senior Manager at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, will explain Gavi’s role in funding and distributing vaccines globally. She will discuss how political factors affect Gavi’s work and share insights into future vaccine targets.
Catherine Gordon, Representative for International Issues at the Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C., and Sue Rheem, Representative to the United Nations for the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, will outline actionable steps for advocating vaccine access in low-resource countries.
Image
From left, Sue Rheem, Representative to the United Nations for the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations; Catherine Gordon, Representative for International Issues at the Office of Public Witness; and Courtney Burks, Senior Manager at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session during which audience members can engage directly with panelists.
“This World Malaria Day event is an opportunity to raise awareness about the urgent need for vaccine funding and the role U.S. legislative action plays in saving lives,” said Sue Gibbons, convenor of PMVAT. “We invite everyone to join us and learn how they can make a difference.”
PMVAT recognizes and supports all organizations working toward equitable access to vaccines in low-resource countries as their efforts are crucial in fighting malaria.
You may freely reuse and distribute this article in its entirety for non-commercial purposes in any medium. Please include author attribution, photography credits, and a link to the original article. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeratives 4.0 International License.
