US Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a $7.8 million grant to the NGO Consortium led by Christian Children's Fund (CCF) in partnership with World Vision, Plan, Africare, Catholic Relief Services and Counterpart International for the Community Action Against Malaria Campaign. Combined with the $12.8 million for Community Health, USAID gives the NGO consortium a total of $20.6 million for program implementation over five years.

Malaria kills more than one million people worldwide every year, with 90 percent of those deaths being attributed to children in Africa. In Senegal, malaria is the leading cause of death for women and children, specifically pregnant women and children under 5 years of age.

Anne Lynam Goddard, President of Christian Children's Fund, announced that CCF has been awarded a $7.8 million USAID grant to lead a five-member consortium for the Community Action Against Malaria campaign in Senegal in support of the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI).

"Reducing infant and maternal mortality rates from malaria by 50 percent is the goal of CCF's malaria program in 11 different regions and 58 health districts of Senegal," Goddard said. Almost 880,000 children 0-5 years of age and 75,000 pregnant women will be the direct beneficiaries of the new malaria initiative. "This new USAID grant will go far in helping CCF and our partners significantly expand our malaria program initiative to new regions throughout Senegal."

Senegal is one of 15 African countries targeted by the President's Malaria Initiative to reduce mortality rates from malaria by 50%. The consortium implementing the USAID malaria grant is supporting a large-scale community- based spraying campaign in three districts, protecting up to 630,000 Senegalese people. Significant community awareness campaigns will also be conducted to educate families about participating in the malaria program. In the first year, they will also facilitate distribution of 200,000 treated bednets to children in the target areas of Senegal.