Summary of the
Opening Plenary Statement
by Tim Reiser, Aide to Senator Leahy

I first got interested in malaria by reading an article in January 1997 in the New York Times. The article described the magnitude of the malaria problem around the world. It was astounding to me. That families could not afford a $5 bednet which could save their children's lives seemed crazy.

I called USAID and was put in touch with Dennis Carroll, who was able to get Senator Leahy interested in the problem of infectious diseases-malaria being only one among many. We discovered that Congress had paid virtually no attention to this issue. Our investigation led to a hearing in our subcommittee in which we looked at the problem and tried to think what could be done about it. We knew that the government could not tackle the malaria problem alone. The private sector would have to be involved also. Working together, the public and the private sector could keep the costs of bednets low and solve the problems of distribution and demand creation.

Senator Leahy is also interested in landmines, but the problem of malaria dwarfs the landmine problems.

This year Congress decided to make available an additional $50 million to USAID, the Centers for Disease Control, and other organizations to address the problem of infectious diseases. This conference now gives us an opportunity to find a way for everyone to work together. Congress wants the United States to play a major role in an area in which we have been too little involved. We will provide the resources so that USAID and other organizations can solve this problem.

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