WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Gayle Smith released the following statement in honor of World Malaria Day:

"On World Malaria Day, USAID joins partners across the globe in commemorating incredible progress in the fight against malaria. When President Bush created the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) in 2005, the disease was almost certainly a death sentence for most poor children in Africa. Thanks to his efforts, President Obama's expansion of the initiative, bipartisan support in Congress, and the hard work of partners around the world, today six million lives have been saved, a vast majority of whom are children.

"But our fight is not over. A child still dies every two minutes from malaria. So we must also answer President Obama's call and work to end malaria within a generation. As the world's leading donor in global health, the United States stands ready to work with partners to intensify efforts around the world to save lives and stop this disease in its tracks.

"PMI is emblematic of what can be achieved with leadership, vision, and hard work sustained over time. Through PMI, hundreds of millions of people have benefited from protective measures and have been diagnosed and treated for malaria. On World Malaria Day, we celebrate this progress, remember those we have lost, and reaffirm our commitment to ending malaria for good."

About the President's Malaria Initiative

PMI is a U.S. Government initiative led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Today, PMI supports 19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and countries in the Greater Mekong sub-region. Read PMI's 10th annual report to Congress here.

#CallYourShot campaign

In conjunction with World Malaria Day, USAID has teamed up with a coalition of partners, including the United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets and Malaria No More to launch the #CallYourShot campaign to raise awareness and funds in the fight against malaria. Basketball star Stephen Curry, along with other athletes, celebrities, and everyday champions, are taking part and taking their shots to end malaria for good.