Football Unites Partners Across the Globe for World Malaria Day; Tackling a Preventable Disease That Kills a Child in Africa Every 30 Seconds

Inspired by the First FIFA World Cup(TM) in Africa, United Against Malaria Brings Together Football Stars, Policy Makers, Celebrities, Corporations, Faith Leaders and Students in a Series of Events to Help Reach the United Nations Target of Universal Access to Mosquito Nets and Malaria Medicine in Africa by the End of 2010

ABIDJAN, Cote d'Ivoire, ACCRA, Ghana, BAMAKO, Mali, DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania and JOHANNESBURG, April 19, 2010 - The world's most popular sport, football, could become the driving force
in the fight against malaria in 2010. In the lead up to World Malaria Day
2010, United Against Malaria (UAM), a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
supported partnership of football teams, celebrities, global health
organizations, governments, corporations and public citizens, is harnessing
the power of football to unite the malaria community across the globe. As
communities around the world rally behind their favorite teams ahead of this
summer's FIFA World Cup(TM) finals, which will be played on African soil for
the first time, global footballers and their federations are inspiring a
unique team of health, social and corporate champions to join them in the UAM
campaign and score the ultimate goal - eliminating malaria deaths by 2015.
The first critical step is reaching the United Nations target of universal
access to mosquito nets and malaria medicine in Africa by the end of 2010.

"With the World Cup in Africa, it's a perfect time to use the most
beloved sport to draw attention to one of the most dreaded ailments on the
continent - malaria," said Gabrielle Fitzgerald, Interim Director of the
Global Health Policy and Advocacy team at the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation. "We see tremendous progress being made in the fight against this
disease and are proud to be part of the team looking to close the chapter on
malaria in Africa."

Over the coming days, UAM champions will be leading the charge with
events taking place in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa,
Tanzania, Zambia and throughout the U.S., with UK announcements to come later
this month. Many of these events will galvanize the power of football to
raise awareness and drive action against malaria. In key donor countries such
as the U.S. and the UK, events will also engage political and faith-based
organizations to further support the UAM objectives to mark World Malaria
Day. Across multiple continents, the message will be clear: concentrated
malaria control efforts are working; now more than ever, continued support
for malaria prevention, treatment, outreach and programming will be the key
to eliminating the disease once and for all.

"No other cause in the world offers individuals the chance to help save
lives or improve livelihoods on the same scale," said Ray Chambers, United
Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy for Malaria and UAM champion. "UAM
is unique in partnering with footballers who are heroes across Africa and can
use their star power and influence to move the needle on malaria control
efforts. We have the tools and the ability, we just need the will of a
determined team. Combating malaria is a fight the global community can win by
working together."

To help turn the tide on this disease, the national football associations
of Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia,
as well as Ireland and the U.S., have all committed to the campaign. Football
stars including Kolo Toure (Cote d'Ivoire), Landon Donovan (U.S.) and Michael
Essien (Ghana) have joined leading health experts and celebrities to add
their voices through filming public service announcements (PSAs).

"Ordinarily, elimination is a word that no professional footballer likes
to hear," said Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy/U.S. Men's National Team star and a
UAM champion. "But when it comes to malaria, it's the most worthwhile goal
there is. As professional athletes, we understand the importance of putting
together a team that has diversity in skill, but unity in a common goal.
United, we can defeat malaria."

With malaria-associated expenses costing the African economy an estimated
US$12 billion per year, the need for corporate leadership is paramount. Many
African companies are grappling with the challenge of protecting their
employees and their families from the ravages of the disease. A number of
them have partnered with the UAM campaign, using the opportunity of World
Malaria Day to announce new initiatives to help tackle the disease across
Africa. One such initiative led by Nando's Restaurants is the development of
a campaign bracelet which raises funds for malaria projects in Africa as well
as provides employment opportunities to poor communities in South Africa.

There is proof that concentrated malaria control efforts are working.
With simple tools such as mosquito nets, effective medicines and safe indoor
spraying, African countries such as Eritrea, Rwanda and Zambia have reduced
malaria deaths by more than 50 percent. But continued support from donors and
endemic countries is crucial to help Africa meet the UN goal of ending
malaria deaths by 2015.

    UAM World Malaria Day Activities across Africa
    -- Cote d'Ivoire - launched UAM-sponsored billboard and TV PSA campaign
       and hosted private sector UAM partners dinner
    -- Ghana - UAM event in central Accra with national federation and net
       distribution
    -- Mali - UAM-sponsored football cup championships in 8 districts and
       national UAM cup
    -- Mozambique - UAM PSA campaign and net distribution
    -- Nigeria - malaria roundtable with private sector and former national
       team footballers
    -- South Africa - announcements from corporate partners on commitments to
       tackling malaria, launch of UAM bracelet campaign, UAM-expedition
       starts delivering nets in a number of countries
    -- Tanzania - launching Malaria Haikubaliki Junior Cup and training
       for sports media
    -- Zambia - UAM-sponsored football matches and net distribution
    -- Uganda - UAM-sponsored football matches and net distribution
    -- UAM Resource Guide - a collection of existing resources and best
       practices from key players in the fight against malaria

    UAM World Malaria Day Activities across the U.S.
    -- Congressional Initiatives - April 20, PSI Ambassador and UAM Champion
       Molly Sims will join young footballers and other champions on Capitol
       Hill to present tens of thousands of signatures urging continued U.S.
       support for malaria efforts, followed by an evening Congressional
       Reception celebrating the tremendous impact of U.S. investments in
       malaria control
    -- The Sleep Out to End Malaria - April 24, UAM is coordinating with
       universities and campuses across the country to sleep out in symbolic
       gesture of commitment to the global fight against malaria
    -- Youth Tournaments - UAM is joining with eight youth tournaments across
       the nation this spring to increase malaria awareness with young
       football players and their families
    -- Major League Football (MLS) Title Nights - the UN Foundation's
       Nothing But Nets(TM) campaign, on behalf of UAM, is partnering with
       MLS to host activities at football matches across the country from
       spring through summer, to increase awareness about malaria

    UAM Footballers/Federations
    -- Footballers - Landon Donovan, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou,
       Frederique Kanoute, Seydou Keita, Roger Milla, Kolo Toure
    -- National Federations/Associations - Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia,
       Ghana, Ireland, Mali, Tanzania, Uganda, U.S., Zambia
    -- Teams - Ghana Black Stars, Mali Aigles, Tanzania Taifa Stars, Zambia's
       Chipolopolo Boys, the Ugandan Cranes, the U.S. and Irish National
       teams, and club teams Anderlecht and FC Barcelona
    -- Dignitaries - Sepp Blatter, Don Garber, Irvin Khoza, Joan Laporta

UAM Corporations

Anglo Gold Ashanti, Azalai Hotels, CECI, Coca-Cola, East African
Breweries Ltd. Uganda, Exxon, KCB, Kampala Pharmaceuticals Industry, Kampala
Serena, Manzi water, MNet, MTN, MTNCI, Nando's Restaurants, Net Shoppe,
Nikon, Novartis, Orange-Mali, Pfizer, Radio One, SAPH, SIFCA, SITAB, SOTRA,
Sheraton Kampala, Standard Bank, SSB Flour, Sumitomo, SuperSport, Total,
Toyota Uganda, Vestergaard Frandsen, Zambeef

Additional UAM Supporters

Bono, Robert Brozin, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Raymond G. Chambers, Peter
Chernin, Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Melinda French Gates, Sunil Gulati, Philippe
Huber, Ashley Judd, Michel D. Kazatchkine, Andrea Kerzner, Johann Olav Koss,
Anna Kournikova, Mandy Moore, Youssou N'Dour, Phuthuma Nhleko, David
O'Connor, Rick Reilly, Molly Sims, Anant Singh, David Sternberg, Diana
Taylor, R.E. Turner, Daniel Vasella, M.D., Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, Abby
Wambach, Casey Wasserman, Keisha Nash Whitaker

About Malaria

Malaria is a disease caused by parasites of the Plasmodium species. It is
transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The parasite
enters the bloodstream and causes fever, headaches and other flu-like
symptoms. If left untreated, the infection in its most severe forms can lead
to a coma and death.

Malaria disproportionately affects the poor, particularly children and
pregnant women on the African continent who are more likely to be exposed to
infection and have the most limited access to malaria prevention, treatment,
and control measures. Malaria kills a child every 30 seconds and overall
nearly one million people each year. In addition to the death toll, malaria
contributes to the cycle of poverty and limits economic development: Malaria
illness and death cost Africa at least US$12 billion in lost productivity
every year.

About United Against Malaria

United Against Malaria is a partnership of football teams and heroes,
celebrities, health and advocacy organizations, governments, corporations,
and people like you who have united ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South
Africa to win the fight against malaria. Our goal is to galvanize partners
throughout the world to reach the United Nations target of universal access
to mosquito nets and malaria medicine in Africa by the end of 2010, a crucial
first step to reaching the international target of reducing deaths to near
zero by 2015. www.UnitedAgainstMalaria.org

Founding partners include Comic Relief, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health, Malaria No More, ONE, PATH, PSI (Population Services
International), the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, the United Nations
Foundation and the United Nations Special Envoy for Malaria.

Africa: John Allen, jallen at hillandknowlton.com, +32(0)-2-737-95-36, or US: Amanda Mulally, amanda.mulally at hillandknowlton.com, +1-212-885-0610, or EU: Rowland Jack, rjack at hillandknowlton.com, +44(0)207-973-4469. NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos and video footage available: [copy and paste into browser] transfer.hillandknowlton.com. Username: UAM PSA; Password: FIFA2010.