US to lead in ending malaria deaths by 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) - Malaria kills nearly 1 million people every year and the vast majority of them are young children.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says President Barack Obama is committed to making the United States a global leader in ending the disease's terrible toll by 2015.

Ambassador Susan Rice is the keynote speaker at a summit on the eve of the second World Malaria Day that will include global leaders in the malaria fight and faith leaders from America and Africa.

They will launch a campaign to mobilize resources to help interfaith institutions in Africa fight malaria more effectively through increased mosquito net distribution and local community education.

The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 250 million people get malaria every year.