Though malaria is treatable, curable and preventable, it still kills one million people every year. More than half of the world's population lives in malaria-infested areas.
Many families spend up to one-third of their income to fight this one disease. This leaves women and families without resources for food and shelter and unable to invest in ways to break out of poverty.
Empowering women can save their families from malaria and end the cycle of poverty. Microloans and opportunities to save money give women economic power -- power to prevent malaria while still keeping food on the table.
Tell the United Nations Capital Development Fund to increase efforts to give women economic power in malaria-infected areas.
Dear [
UNCDF official]
I am writing you today to encourage you to increase efforts to economically empower women in malaria-infected areas.
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Your comments will be added here]
Every year, malaria claims the lives of over a million people, many of them young children. Even more heartbreaking is the fact that this deadly disease is preventable.
Malaria is economically devastating, too. According to research by Freedom from Hunger, in West Africa very poor families, on average, spend one-third of their income dealing with malaria. It's essential that the UN Captial Development Fund educate women about microfinance opportunities so they can develop the financial resources to fight this deadly disease.
Loans and savings enable women to set aside money for the purchase or retreatment of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), can guard against lost wages due to sickness, can help with care for a family member who is ill, and can enable them to quickly seek medical treatment if and when the disease strikes.
Please, increase your efforts to provide microfinance opportunities and education to women in malaria-infected areas and empower women to save their children.
