Everything You Need to Take Action for World Mosquito Day 2023

On August 20 each year, we recognize World Mosquito Day, commemorating the 1897 discovery by British doctor Sir Ronald Ross that female anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans. This discovery launched scientists into a new age of research in the fight against malaria. Thanks to the commitment of champions like you — we continue to press ahead in the fight to beat malaria!  

To celebrate World Mosquito Day, United to Beat Malaria is hosting a virtual Advocacy Day on Thursday, September 14. Champions will be grouped by state to meet virtually with their elected officials in support of life-saving global malaria programs like PMI and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. 

Participating in our virtual Advocacy Day is the best way to position yourself to be selected for our annual Leadership Summit in March!

SCHEDULE 

• Due to the unpredictable nature of the Hill please be sure to block your calendar on September 14 from 9 a.m. ET to 5 p.m. ET.  
• Week of September 4: preliminary meeting schedules will be distributed to the email used at registration. Schedules will be sent from advocacyday  @  advocacyassociates.com 

FORMAT 

Meetings will take place virtually from the comfort of your home. If you are new to advocacy, this is the perfect opportunity for you to strengthen your advocacy muscles, as you will be able to directly reference your talking points.  

TRAINING WEBINARS 

Mark your calendars for the below trainings. To help you succeed, we encourage you to attend as many of these as possible, as each will focus on different aspects of our asks and talking points.    

• Watch our training webinar from July 17 for an update on Congressional Appropriations from our Director of Global Health, Jess Pavel 
• Watch our training webinar from July 31 for an overview of the President’s Malaria Initiative and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. 
• Watch our training webinar from August 14 for an overview of one of our talking points for September Meetings with Congress, the impact of malaria on the U.S. military
• Watch our training webinar from August 28, 2023 for an overview of malaria as a climate-sensitive disease
• REQUIRED: MEET YOUR UN FOUNDATION HILL LEADS on September 12 @ 4:30 p.m. ET
  • On Tuesday, September 12 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET we will host our final training before your meeting. Please do not miss this training as you will meet your UN Foundation staff lead and state group.  During this time you will identify speaking order and prepare to deliver your asks.  

MEETING PREPARATION 

Prior to your meetings, we recommend you do some light research on your congressional delegation’s interests and responsibilities in Congress. To get started, follow the check-list below: 

• Follow your members on social media.  
• Identify which talking points would be most persuasive for your meeting.  
• Read up on their professional backgrounds, their committee assignments, any membership groups to which they belong, their legislative accomplishments, etc. Most of this information is available on your individual legislators’ home pages found at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.   
• Most importantly, be ready to share why malaria elimination is important to you. 

NOTE: Your advocacy day meetings on Capitol Hill are being arranged by the United to Beat Malaria team. Please do not attempt to schedule your own meetings.

 ATTIRE 

If you have a United to Beat Malaria T-shirt, we encourage you to wear it. If not, you can wear a blazer or cardigan over a t-shirt, polo, or button-down shirt. Don’t worry you can still wear your sweats or yoga pants!  

Questions about World Mosquito Day meetings with Congress? Contact Maegan Cross, Associate, Grassroots Advocacy at [email protected]