Ex-Sky Sports presenter Charlie Webster leads global fight against malaria in new ambassador role
The 34-year-old represents charity Malaria No More UK after cheating death with malaria battle in summer
DEATHS from the killer disease malaria have been slashed by almost a third in the last five years, according to new global figures out today.
In 2015, there were 212million new cases of malaria and 429,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organisation.
Two countries – Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan – have successfully eliminated the infection spread by mosquitoes, and another ten countries are on track to make malaria a thing of the past by 2020.
But experts are warning that this does not mean that we can throw away our insect repellent and anti-malaria pills when we go on a sunshine break – or that the battle against the disease is won.
They were backed yesterday by Charlie Webster, the ex-Sky Sports presenter who almost died from the illness when she was in Rio after a 3,000-mile charity cycle ride from the Olympic stadium.
Charlie, 34, who is back on our TV screens on December 21 in a celebrity University Challenge, says we should not be complacent because of the new figures.
She urged Sun readers to take travel insurance on sunshine breaks to malaria-ridden countries, as well as donate to charity to make sure kids in Africa get free anti-mozzie bed nets.
She says: “The figures aren’t going down naturally, they are going down because of the work of charities like Malaria No More UK and the support of the UK.
“Malaria has been killing people for years. Kids are dying from it all the time – but it can be prevented.
“Treated bed nets cost almost nothing. The reason I got involved is because I know the devastating effect malaria had on me and I know I’m lucky that I survived.
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“We can actually end malaria. If we all get together, it’s an amazing thing we can achieve in our lifetime. If we take away our support, it will get worse.”
Charlie is attending the launch of the World Malaria Report 2016 in Westminster tonight with International Development Secretary Priti Patel and England footballer Moses Odubajo, whose mother Esther died of malaria when he was 13.
The presenter suffered multiple organ failure, needed several blood transfusions and was put into a coma for a month before being flown home.
She was on kidney dialysis in Leeds but now has 68 per cent function – up from 24 per cent in September.
The healthy eater has to avoid nuts, avocado and leafy greens – anything with potassium – and drink four litres of water a day to flush her kidneys.
Charlie is now an ambassador for Malaria No More UK. She says: “The medical staff in Leeds are so surprised by where I am now.
"My doctors say I’m months ahead of what I should be. They said one of the reasons I survived was because I was so physically fit – and mentally, I was a fighter too.”