Malaria Consortium welcomes Justine Greening MP as UK International Development Secretary

London, UK, 6 September 2012 – Malaria Consortium welcomes the appointment of the Rt Hon Justine Greening MP as the UK’s Secretary of State for International Development.

“We are delighted that DFID will be led by incoming Secretary of State Justine Greening, whose time at the Treasury will no doubt have prepared her for the results focus and value for money drive that DFID is so critically pursuing,” said Sylvia Meek, Malaria Consortium Technical Director.

“Within this context, we are confident that the new Secretary of State will stand by the UK’s commitment to spend £500 million a year by 2014/15 on malaria control. The impact of malaria in endemic countries is devastating, with the disease killing 655,000 people every year, diminishing education levels and household incomes and negatively impacting the economies of the worst affected countries by 1.3 per cent per annum.”

We are equally excited by the addition of Lynne Featherstone MP to the DFID team, whose work on equality and whose experience as opposition spokesperson for International Development will no doubt be of great benefit to the Department.

Malaria Consortium also commends departing Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, Stephen O’Brien, on their time in office. Under Mr Mitchell and Mr O’Brien’s leadership, DFID was marked by a commitment to transparency and an unwavering focus on results, including the aim to help halve malaria deaths in at least ten of the worst affected countries by 2015. Malaria Consortium would like to thank Stephen O’Brien MP in particular for his singular support for the fight against malaria both as a Minister and throughout his time as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases.

“With the UK leading efforts to fight malaria, deaths attributable to the disease have fallen worldwide by 20% from 2000 to 2009, with 11 African countries experiencing a reduction of 50% in malaria cases and deaths in the same period,” said Dr Meek. “We look forward to continuing to partner with the UK Government and the new Secretary of State, in the fight against this disease as well as in renewed efforts against Neglected Tropical Diseases and support to child survival.”

Malaria Consortium works with DFID and other partners to reduce the burden of malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases and childhood illnesses and to improve access to health care in nine countries in Africa and Asia. To find out more about our work visit our website at www.malariaconsortium.org or email us at [email protected].