The following announcement was just released by Representative Donald Payne of New Jersey and Representative Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska. We welcome Representative Fortenberry’s leadership in co-chairing  the Malaria and Neglected Tropical Disease Caucus and look forward to continuing to work on joint, cost-effective solutions to build on the successes we’ve already seen:

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressmen Donald M. Payne (D-NJ) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) today announced that they will serve  as co-chairmen of the bipartisan  Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Caucus, formerly the Congressional Malaria Caucus, for the 112^th Congress.

The Congressional Malaria Caucus was launched by Payne and former Rep. John Boozman (R-AR), with the assistance of former First Lady Laura Bush, in 2008 to raise Congressional awareness of the United States’ efforts to stem the tide of malaria across the globe.  In 2009, the Caucus expanded to include within its mission neglected tropical disease (NTD) control and prevention.

“Malaria kills as many as three million people each year, and NTDs affect more than one billion people worldwide,” said Fortenberry.  “Every 45 seconds, a child in Africa dies from malaria.  Every day, countless children are left disfigured, blinded, developmentally debilitated, and killed by NTDs.   These diseases form a heartbreaking global health emergency.  As the United States’ own public health experience has demonstrated, diseases like malaria are treatable, preventable, and curable.  I share the Caucus’ goal of ending malaria deaths by 2015, and working to curb the spread of NTDs among our world’s most vulnerable.”

“In a time of crucial discussions about U.S. foreign assistance reform, malaria and NTD control and prevention represent some of the strongest returns on investment for foreign assistance dollars,” said Payne. “Over the last few years, through proven, effective and low-cost control interventions, the United States, along with our global partners, has been able to slash malaria disease burdens and deaths in Africa and elsewhere around the world.  The strong connection between malaria and NTDs results in synergistic solutions and joint prevention campaigns for the deceases have proven highly effective and low-cost.  I look forward to working with Mr. Fortenberry to continue to build on these successes. ”

Malaria, an infectious blood disease spread by mosquitoes, is most prevalent in the developing world, with 90 percent of deaths occurring in Africa.  The majority of those killed are pregnant women and children under five years old.

More than one-sixth of the world’s population is infected by NTDs, particularly in the most impoverished areas of Latin America and Africa.  Most NTDs are preventable and treatable parasitic infectious diseases spread by insects or contaminated soil and water, particularly in tropical climates.

Fortenberry is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights.  Payne is the co-founder of the Caucus and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee.