The Chief Executive Officer of Pateli Health Aid Mission (PAHAM), a 501(c)(1) organization operating in the United States and Ghana, Patience Edziah, has led a congressional advocacy campaign calling on Mitch McConnell to co-sponsor a bipartisan resolution recognizing World Malaria Day and advancing efforts toward global malaria eradication.
The resolution, S.Res. 173, seeks to formally designate April 25 as World Malaria Day while reinforcing international commitment to ending the disease. It is being co-led by Roger Wicker and Chris Coons.
As part of the advocacy effort, public health advocate Patience Edziah, alongside colleagues, also urged Senator McConnell to support an upcoming Senate resolution backing Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery systems, particularly across Africa.
Personal Stories Highlight Malaria’s Impact
In a compelling presentation to policymakers, Ms. Edziah shared her personal experience with malaria, describing it as a recurring challenge throughout her childhood in Ghana.
“Growing up in Ghana, malaria was not a distant statistic — it was a recurring part of my life,” she said, recounting how repeated infections disrupted her education and later affected her productivity in the workforce.
She emphasized that malaria remains a preventable disease, yet continues to rob individuals of valuable time and opportunities. Citing global health data, she noted that vaccines have prevented an estimated 154 million deaths over the past 50 years, while malaria control efforts have averted 2.2 billion cases since 2000.
“As a nurse and as a mother, I understand the devastating impact of preventable disease — on families, on futures, and on nations,” she added.
Ms. Edziah also shared her son’s recent struggles with malaria in Ghana, where he fell seriously ill twice between late 2024 and April 2025, missing nearly a week of school on each occasion.
“As a mother living in the United States, there is a painful helplessness in watching your child suffer thousands of miles away from a disease that is entirely preventable,” she said.
A Global Issue with Local Consequences
The presentation highlighted the broader implications of malaria beyond Ghana, stressing that infectious diseases do not respect borders. The Advocate pointed to rising cases of locally acquired malaria in parts of the United States, including Florida, Texas, Maryland, and New Jersey, often linked to imported infections.
She further underscored the economic impact of malaria, noting that the disease weakens Ghana’s workforce and hinders economic growth, with ripple effects on U.S. trade and investment ties.
“Cutting global health funding doesn’t protect America — it removes the firewall that keeps us safe,” Ms Edziah warned.
Economic Case for Investment
Patience Edziah, also a Registered Nurse (RN), made a strong economic argument for sustained global health funding, describing it as one of the most effective investments for taxpayers.
According to the data presented, every $1 invested in vaccines yields approximately $50 in returns, while malaria control generates about $36 per dollar spent. Between 2011 and 2020, vaccines produced an estimated $1.53 trillion in economic benefits in lower-income countries, for $34 billion.
They also cited a measles outbreak in Ethiopia, which cost about $760,000 to contain—roughly $70 per case—compared to less than $5 required to vaccinate a child, underscoring the cost-effectiveness of prevention.
Call for Bipartisan Action
The PAHAM CEO is urging U.S. lawmakers to take decisive action by supporting strong, bipartisan global health funding.
These key recommendations include fully funding programs under Gavi, the Global Fund, UNICEF, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. State Department’s immunization and malaria initiatives in the 2027 fiscal year.
Se also reiterated calls for lawmakers to co-sponsor S.Res. 173 and back the forthcoming Senate resolution supporting Gavi.
Advocates say such commitments are essential to sustaining progress against malaria and protecting vulnerable populations worldwide.
“Prevention is always the smarter, cheaper, and more humane choice,” Ms Edziah concluded.