GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Comic Relief have entered a five-year partnership to battle malaria and improve health systems around the world.
“Comic Relief has a long history of working with partners to help change lives both here in the U.K. and in some of the world’s poorest communities,”
Comic Relief CEO Kevin Cahill said. “This partnership with GSK is built on a joint desire to make a real and lasting difference to the health of people across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.”
The partnership specifically targets five countries that have been most damaged by malaria. An estimated half-million people die from malaria each year. Most of these deaths are among children who are under 5 years old and live in sub-Saharan Africa.
“We are hugely excited to step up our fight against malaria in collaboration with Comic Relief,” Ramil Burden, GSK’s vice president for Africa and developing countries, said. “As a health care company, GSK has long been involved in battling this disease but we know more needs to be done; we are delighted to partner with Comic Relief, who bring a deep understanding of supporting communities to improve health and prospects. Our partnership will support global efforts aimed at trying to reduce the burden of malaria by 90 percent by 2030. Not only will this help unlock human and economic potential, but it will also provide a springboard for managing other current and future health challenges.”
