Malaria Sunday is April 26th

World Malaria Day is April 25, and Malaria Sunday is April 26th this year.

Please take 2.5 minutes to listen to Ester's story from Uganda.

World Malaria Day is an opportunity to remember those who have died from malaria, honor those who live with the daily realities of the disease and renew our commitment to join the global movement of people who are making malaria history. The ELCA Malaria Campaign has raised $13.8 million so far, which puts us over 90% of the way to reaching our $15 million goal. We set a goal, dreamed big with our companions, and pledged to raise $15 million by the end of 2015. The time for that dream to become a reality is now! This will be the final observance of World Malaria Day within the ELCA Malaria Campaign - let's make it a great one! 

Eight country programs are fully funded, with major changes underway, but there are communities in five countries still depending on our support.  Here are a few statistics from our 2014 programs: 

• More than 2 million community members have become educated on malaria prevention and treatment.
• Nearly 50,000 insecticide-treated bed nets have been distributed to vulnerable households.
• More than 32,000 expectant mothers have received preventative malaria treatment during pregnancy.
• 163,679 people have been tested for malaria with Rapid Diagnostic Tests.
• 40,000 people have been treated for malaria through Lutheran programs after testing positive.
• A rural health post in Zambia reported that the malaria mortality rate in the area declined to zero in 2014!

This work is making a life-saving difference in so many communities. Thank you for helping to make this possible!

Virginia Synod has given $250,000 to the ELCA Malaria Campaign, and is now launching a new initiative to help bring this same life-saving malaria prevention to our sisters and brothers in Papua New Guinea, our companion synod in the western Pacific.  

Let's stand together as Resurrection People to keep gifts designated for this campaign, in the effort to bring one more nation, one more region, one more village to health and prosperity by overcoming this preventable disease.  Please put a check in the offering plate for these children that our Heavenly Father loves like we love our very own!

To learn more, visit www.ELCA.org/malaria or our Virginia Synod site www.Team2017.org to learn more or to give on-line.