ExxonMobil Foundation Donates $1 Million to Continue Efforts to Fight Malaria in Chad and Cameroon

NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Malaria No More announced that it has received a generous grant of $1 million from the ExxonMobil Foundation to help the organization expand its successful malaria education and advocacy programs in Chad and Cameroon through the award-winning NightWatch program.

NightWatch, developed by Malaria No More in collaboration with the ExxonMobil Foundation and Lalela Project, is a proven communications campaign that airs nightly in malaria-endemic communities across Africa. The campaign leverages media – TV, radio and SMS text messages – to reach millions with nightly reminders from top African musicians, athletes and political figures to sleep safely under mosquito bed nets. To date, the campaign has reached 4.6 million Cameroonians. In 2012, the campaign aims to recruit new iconic messengers and expand the program's reach with more interactive engagement through mobile phones and other nationally popular communications platforms.

"ExxonMobil has long been a shining example of corporate responsibility. The support that ExxonMobil is providing to life-saving programs to protect children from malaria will be a lasting legacy of their commitment to the communities in which they work," said David Bowen, CEO of Malaria No More. "Malaria No More is committed to continuing its work with ExxonMobil and achieving our shared goal of ending deaths from malaria in Cameroon, Chad, and throughout Africa."

Malaria No More will also help ensure rapid diagnostic tests -- essential tools in the fight against malaria -- are made available to more health facilities in Cameroon by focusing on supply chain improvements and communications to health care workers. 

In Chad, Malaria No More will work with community-based organizations to provide on-going education on the importance of malaria control that will help lead to the elimination of malaria deaths in the country.

"ExxonMobil Foundation is proud to partner with Malaria No More on its lifesaving work in Africa," said Suzanne McCarron, president, ExxonMobil Foundation. "NightWatch is a powerful example of an innovative program engaging national heroes to make a real difference in the fight against malaria."

About Malaria No More

Malaria No More is committed to achieving the global goal of near zero malaria deaths by 2015. Malaria No More leverages high-impact communications to engage the world, global advocacy to rally leadership and strategic investments to accelerate progress. For more information, visit www.MalariaNoMore.org, read our Buzzwords blog, "Like" our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

CONTACT: Erica Lichtenberger | COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Malaria No More
(o) 212.710.5891, [email protected]

SOURCE Malaria No More