25.04.2017

Press release: The Swiss Malaria Group announces winners of worldwide malaria photo and video contest

Be the generation to end malaria

Swiss Malaria Group (SMG) Geneva, Switzerland – 25 April 2017 – On the occasion of this year’s World Malaria Day, the Swiss Malaria Group announces the winners of its worldwide photo and video contest: the Spanish photo journalist Anna Surinyach and the Swiss photographer Roland Schmid as well as Steve Holloway in the video category. A jury of international photographers and experts selected the best and most powerful photos and videos that let us dive into a world full of personal stories depicting the work of a generation that has the power to end malaria in its lifetime. The winners will be awarded at the opening of an outdoor exhibition of winning photos on the lakefront in Geneva. The exhibition is presented by the Swiss Malaria Group, a network of research institutions, civil society, public and private sector providing Swiss leadership against malaria.

Malaria reinforces poverty and causes the deaths of almost half a million people per year – mainly among young children, babies, and pregnant women. Malaria is accountable for the death of one child every 2 minutes (World Malaria Report 2016). In 2015, the World Health Assembly adopted the goal of reducing malaria deaths and incidence by at least 90% and eliminate malaria from at least 35 countries by 2030. In line with these targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Swiss Malaria Group launched a photo and video contest inviting submissions that show the link between a healthier global future and malaria control.

David Burnett, one of the contest’s judges and twice World Press Photo jury chair, congratulates the winners of the contest - Roland Schmid, Anna Surinyach, Steve Holloway and the runners up. Jury member Konstantina Boutsika, herself a malaria expert at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) confirmed, “The depicted stories really show the daily life in malaria-affected regions and the ongoing struggle to save lives.” One of the winning photos taken in the Democratic Republic of Congo, shows doctors fighting to save the life of a little boy suffering from severe malaria as parasites have invaded his brain.

Investment in malaria is considered to be one of the “best buys” in global health and development. Since 2000, more than 6 million lives (UNICEF and WHO 2015. Achieving the malaria MDG Target. Reversing the incidence of malaria 2000-2015) have been saved. Yet, these recent gains are increasingly threatened by resistance against medicines and insecticides, combined with insufficient investments against the disease. Swiss organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors play a pioneering role in research and innovation in developing new medicines, diagnostic tests and other tools through public-private partnerships.

Manuel Sager, Head of the Swiss Agency of Development and Cooperation (SDC) commented on the winning picture by Anna Surinyach: “The photo of Neema, the Congolese boy suffering from malaria, really stroke a chord with me. It stands for a large number of children worldwide who are dying because of this terrible disease. In this context, I am especially pleased to say that Switzerland’s innovative partnerships with the private sector are supporting the development and usage of new, life-saving and affordable medicines. These organizations are among others: Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi)”.

The respective winners of the three photo categories #innovatetogether, #caretogether for a #betterworld will receive cashprizes: first prize is CHF 1500, second prize CHF 800 and third prize CHF 525. The best video will receive CHF 1500.

From researchers to nurses, from politicians to civilians, everyone is vital to reach the ambitious yet achievable goal of a world without malaria. Until malaria ends, however, there is one proven fact: The moment investments in malaria control decrease, the disease strikes back without mercy.

AWARD CEREMONY AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION ON WORLD MALARIA DAY

DATE: Tuesday, 25 April 2017, 16:00-19:00

SPEAKERS:

  • Elhadj As Sy, Board Member of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, Secretary General of International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies IFRC
  • Sabrina Dallafior, Ambassador to the UNOG
  • Prof. Christian Lengeler, Swiss TPH
  • Fabian Biasio, Photographer, Jury Member

VENUE: Award ceremony and Aperitif, Restauration Bains des Pâquis, Quai du Mont-Blanc 30, Geneva 1200 (http://www.bains-des-paquis.ch/fr/acces/) followed by the exhibition opening to be held at the Rotonde du Mont-Blanc (Geneva lakefront, Quai du Mont Blanc opposite the Brunswick monument))

EXHIBITION: The exhibition is open to the public all day from 26 April to 1 May 2017 and is being kindly hosted by the City of Geneva at the Rotonde du Mont-Blanc on the lakefront.

The photos and videos of the winners and runners-up can also be viewed via the online exhibition from 26 April 2017: https://www.swissmalariagroup.ch