THE DRIVE AGAINST MALARIA
INTRODUCTION - MAPS - LATEST STATUS

DAVID ROBERTSON AND THE DRIVE AGAINST MALARIA

David Robertson's fight against malaria began after he contracted malaria in Mombassa Kenya during his first mission over Africa in 1988. Fortunately he was able to fly back to England for treatment where it was discovered he was suffering with the malaria affecting the brain - cerebral malaria. David was told he could have easily slipped into a coma and never regained consciousness. Whilst in England David did some research to find there were no organizations fighting malaria.

After recovering David returned to Africa to continue driving south toTanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. He asked the question who was fighting malaria. He found no answers, but he did see the misery malaria caused to all communities in Africa. In May 1989 David left Cape Town South Africa to ship his car to the USA and start a new quest bringing worldwide attention to malaria, as the biggest killer of children. He drove across the United States from Times Square New York to Seattle and Vancouver before driving north up to the Artic Circle Alaska. In October 1989 David finished the American leg to go onto Eastern Europe and Asia, but funds ran short and after a car accident in Greece, David returned to his home in England to search for sponsors. In 1997 his first sponsor came forwards, Memisa from the Netherlands. The Drive Against Malaria was born.

The Drive against Malaria's European leg began in Rotterdam in 1998. David Robertson drove through 26 countries in Europe and meet with Ambassadors, presidents, secretaries of state and the media to plea for money to be given to malaria the forgotten disease of Africa.

In March 1999 the African leg was launched at the malaria conference in Durban by Dr David Nabarro of the World Heath Organisation's "Roll Back Malaria" campaign with Mary Galinski President of Malaria Foundation International. This was to be the global turning point in the fight against malaria. David Robertson left South Africa after media campaigns throughout the country to drive to Namibia, Botswana and onto Zimbabwe. In every country a press conference was held by the relevant British or Dutch Embassies or High Commissions.

David has driven the same Land Rover to East Africa and onto West Africa before returning to Europe. He is now heading back towards southern Africa, giving away mosquito nets, talking with children about malaria in school and visiting the health service along with the scientific communities of Africa.