To commemorate World Malaria Day, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) will develop a collaboration with The Gambia as part of the global campaign to eradicate malaria.

To commemorate World Malaria Day, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) will develop a collaboration with The Gambia as part of the global campaign to eradicate malaria.

This announcement, which includes Burundi and Togo, brings the total number of PMI partner nations to 30, including 27 in sub-Saharan Africa and three in Southeast Asia.

Since 2015, The Gambia has been one of six African nations that have met the 2020 target of lowering malaria infections and fatalities by 40%. This new collaboration with PMI will help the Gambia shift from malaria control to eradication.

PMI expects to contribute $4 million to kick-start the process in support of The Gambia's National Malaria Strategy. The funds will be utilized to carry out initiatives such as mosquito net distribution, pesticide application, prenatal care, and medication distribution.

"The Gambia's government and its partnering organizations have significantly reduced malaria transmission," but there is still work to be done. Malaria continues to be a health and financial hardship for many Gambian families. 

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"The U.S. government hopes to help The Gambia eliminate this debilitating and fatal illness by giving PMI resources," said Sharon L. Cromer, US Ambassador to The Gambia.

Additionally, the expansion will allow PMI to maximize the effectiveness of current U.S. government investments, particularly those in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

Most malaria infections (247 million infections) and fatalities (619,000 deaths) worldwide in 2021 occurred in Africa, while about 80% of deaths occurred in children under five.

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Since 2000, PMI has assisted in directing international initiatives that have averted more than 2 billion malaria cases and saved 11.7 million lives.

 President of the United States (Joe Biden) released a statement in which he stated: "My administration remains committed to ending malaria so that everyone around the world can pursue healthy and prosperous lives free of one of humanity's oldest and most destructive diseases."