Jordan Sparks helps in Fighting Malaria in Africa

Jordin “Sparks” an Interest in Fighting Malaria in Africa
American Idol Winner Travels to Ghana during the President and First Lady’s Trip to Africa

Accra, GHANA—American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks will make an appearance during the President and Mrs. Bush’s trip to Ghana tomorrow, in an effort to highlight malaria’s devastating effect on mothers and children throughout Africa. Last year’s Idol Gives Back charity special educated tens of millions of Americans about the malaria crisis in Africa and raised more than $17 million to fight malaria in Africa.

19 Entertainment/Jive Records artist Jordin Sparks will visit Ghana during the President and Mrs. Bush’s five-nation trip to Africa to observe the progress of the United States’ programs fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria and other treatable diseases. Jordin will witness firsthand the importance of mosquito nets in preventing malaria deaths when she and Mrs. Bush visit a health clinic and women’s nutrition center Wednesday afternoon and visit malaria programs funded by the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Thursday.

“Traveling to Ghana with Malaria No More gives me the incredible opportunity to see for myself what a difference a simple mosquito net can make in the life of a child,” said Sparks. “I’m so proud of the millions of American Idol fans who helped save lives through last year’s Idol Gives Back. I hope that my own fans will learn along with me as I discover more about this devastating disease and the simple steps we can all take to make malaria no more.”

Malaria kills more African children than any other disease: 3,000 each day and more than 1 million people each year. Yet recent studies in Ethiopia and Rwanda have shown that malaria deaths can be reduced by more than half through widespread use of mosquito nets and access to medicine. Thanks to private donations and corporate funds raised from Idol Gives Back, Malaria No More has protected more than two million mothers and children in five African countries with long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets this year.

“Jordin is an invaluable ally in the fight against malaria. She was first introduced to the malaria crisis while fulfilling her dream of becoming an American Idol,” said Martin Edlund, spokesperson for Malaria No More. “We hope that the millions of fans who are touched by her music will also be touched by her commitment to fighting this treatable and preventable disease so that countless African children will have the chance to grow up and make their own dreams come true.”

About Malaria No More
Malaria No More's mission is simple: to end deaths due to malaria. Malaria No More works to raise the profile of the disease among the public, policymakers, and businesses, while engaging the private sector to provide life-saving mosquito nets and other critical interventions to families in Africa. For more information please visit http://www.malarianomore.org/.

Source: Malaria No More