Novartis launches blog post, tweet writing contest on malaria

MANILA, Philippines - Novartis and Malaria No More have launched the “World Briefing: Telling the Malaria Story Contest” to spread the word about malaria prevention and treatment.

The contest is open to graduate students up to 35 years of age currently enrolled at an accredited university in the United States, Argentina, Ecuador, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Philippines and Venezuela.

Contestants must develop a blog post of 500 words or less, in English, that focuses on the current malaria burden and ways in which their generation can make progress in the fight against malaria. They must also develop a tweet, or sentence of 140 characters or less, explaining why they should win the contest.

To spread the word about the prevention and treatment of malaria, and help build the coalition to ease the global malaria burden, research-based healthcare company Novartis and Malaria No More, a non-governmental organization committed to ending malaria deaths in Africa, have launched the “World Briefing: Telling the Malaria Story Contest”.

Malaria is a highly preventable and treatable disease yet, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one million people die from malaria each year, mostly children. It remains a major public health concern in the Philippines, where Department of Health (DOH) data show that the mosquito-borne disease is prevalent in 58 of the country’s 80 provinces, mostly in the poorest municipalities.

The World Briefing: Telling the Malaria Story Contest is open to graduate students up to 35 years of age currently enrolled at an accredited university in the United States, Argentina, Ecuador, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Philippines and Venezuela.

Contestants must send their statement, tweet, and official documentation to enter@malariacontest. com on or before April 30, 2010. For full details of the contest mechanics, log on to www.world briefing.org or www.novartis.com.ph.

Between May 1 and May 12, 2010, representatives of Novartis and Malaria No More will evaluate all of the submissions and select the top 6 entries (2 from each of the following regions: Latin America/Asia; Europe; and the United States).

Between May 12 and May 26, 2010, the top six submissions will be posted on Malaria No More’s contest Web site (www.worldbriefing.org), at which time the general public will have the opportunity to review and vote for their favorite entry. A task force of judges from across the globe comprised of representatives from Novartis, Malaria No More, and/or a college professor or journalist will determine the three winners based on a weighted formula that considers the votes of the task force and general public. The three winners will be announced the week of May 31st.