UNITAID is a small but scrappy group based within the World Health Organization that is applying 21st century solutions to age-old problems using a 1-2 punch of innovative financing and futuristic technology.

Globally, more than 90 countries today are malaria-free, with an additional 26 en route to achieving that status. Still, eliminating malaria in Africa is a challenging goal.

Every minute, malaria claims a life in Africa; but, malaria mortality rates are falling. Just a few short years ago, statistics showed a child died every 30 seconds of the mosquito-borne disease.

Of the $5 billion needed every year to achieve and maintain universal access to malaria interventions worldwide, less than a half -- some $2.3 billion -- is currently available.

A preventable, curable disease, was killing close to a million children a year. Can you know these facts, and not do anything about them? Was I going to be a writer who knew about this -- and yet continue to write fictional films usually featuring weddings?

Dr. Roly Gosling is an international expert on malaria. I have asked him to answer a few questions for us regarding malaria elimination, its importance, and why the Global Fund is critical to achieving that goal worldwide.

Three months ago, I shared a story about a Ugandan girl -- Christine Akullo -- who was preparing to compete in the Paralympics in London. The events for which Christine had trained so hard went on without her, because she suddenly became ill with malaria.

When it comes to health in the developing world, timing is everything. A few scant hours can make the difference between a child being successfully treated for malaria and becoming a statistic.

Malaria remains one of the most widespread infectious diseases in Africa. Yet, insecticide treated nets are available. Medicines are available. Prevention education is available -- but to everyone?

There's a reason we recognize World Malaria Day annually, and it is this: While there is no vaccine, malaria is both preventable and curable. But travelers, expatriates, businesses, NGOs and universities must know the risks beforehand.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced today that it will need $15 billion to continue its life-saving work. If the world comes together to meet this replenishment goal, it will build on one of its greatest achievements of the past decade by saving millions more lives.

Diseases do not recognize borders. Mosquitos that transmit malaria don't either. The investments that the world makes to the Global Fund are going to allow us to continue to implement high-impact interventions.