I'm an NFL player, yet malaria nearly killed me. Kids will die without foreign aid.

I’m an NFL player, yet malaria nearly killed me. Kids will die without foreign aid. | Opinion

Posted by author March 7, 2025 NFL

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Suspending lifesaving treatment programs would endanger not only those abroad but also Americans who travel, work or serve our country overseas.

Calvin Anderson
| Opinion contributor

Two years ago, malaria nearly killed me, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have survived. Not just because I was an NFL player in peak physical condition, but because I had access to lifesaving anti-malarial treatments and top-tier medical care.

Millions of people around the world ‒ primarily young children ‒ are not as lucky, and if we as a country continue to halt critical malaria-fighting foreign assistance, the consequences will be devastating.

The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) has been vital in the fight against this deadly disease, helping to drive down malaria cases and deaths significantly in its partner countries. However, the recent freeze on funding for foreign aid programs has jeopardized critical initiatives that support global health and development. This halt disrupts the delivery of essential medical supplies, leaving vulnerable populations at greater risk and undoing many years of progress.

Freezing funding tragically reverses progress against malaria

Having personally experienced the horror of malaria, I am deeply saddened by this decision. It is unacceptable that these barriers are preventing children and families from accessing essential innovations and services that could save lives.

That is why I stand with United to Beat Malaria in urging all relevant parties ensure that PMI-funded programs are immediately reinstated with sufficient funding and resources.

If action is not taken, the risks are both health-related and economic-related. According to a recent analysis, suspending the President’s Malaria Initiative programs for 90 days would result in 1.7 million additional malaria cases and 17,000 additional deaths.

This would represent a tragic reversal of the progress we have made through our investments as a nation, endangering not only those abroad but also Americans who travel, work or serve our country overseas.

Beyond the health crisis, malaria has severe economic implications as well. This disease hampers productivity, increases health care costs and disrupts education particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. When workers and students are debilitated by illness, productivity is significantly impacted and entire economies suffer.

Investments in malaria prevention not only save lives but also foster economic stability and growth in the world’s most vulnerable regions, regions that we as a country have vested interest in.

What my battle with malaria made clear

My own harrowing experience with malaria began in the summer of 2023 when my wife, Sherée, and I traveled to her home country of Nigeria to visit family and continue our annual philanthropic work.

That year had started with immense promise for me: I had just secured my first multiyear contract in unrestricted free agency with the New England Patriots. It was a defining moment in my NFL career.

The first morning my wife and I woke up finally back in Boston from traveling, my body temperature had skyrocketed to 105 degrees. Sherée insisted we go to the hospital, a decision that ultimately saved my life. Instead of preparing for training camp, I found myself in the emergency room at Newton-Wellesley Hospital fighting to survive. The doctors gave me a 50-50 chance.

Had I arrived any later or lacked access to anti-malarial treatment, I likely would not have made it.

Because of malaria, I missed training camp and lost critical conditioning time, which impacted my season and career trajectory. Today, I am grateful to be with the Pittsburgh Steelers and to be back at full strength, but the memory of my battle with malaria still lingers.

What is remarkable about my story is just how unremarkable it is on a global scale. Every day, thousands of children in malaria-endemic regions miss school, sports and even basic daily activities due to this disease.

Many Americans remain unaware that malaria is still one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide.

Pregnant women and young children are especially vulnerable, and without access to protective measures like bed nets and treatments, a child under 5 years old dies from malaria every single minute. If left untreated, a child can die in as little as 24 hours.

I am not a doctor or a scientist, but my battle with malaria made one thing abundantly clear: If we can protect even one person from this disease ‒ let alone millions ‒ we have both a moral and fiscal duty to act. This is not just a humanitarian obligation; it is also a smart economic and strategic investment.

Malaria does not respect borders. The United States reports at least 2,000 malaria cases annually, many of them linked to travel. Malaria also remains a leading disease threat for U.S. military personnel and diplomats stationed overseas. Yet, just weeks after acknowledging the importance of fighting malaria, the foreign aid freeze has stalled these crucial efforts, leaving millions of people unprotected and untreated.

My story is just one example, but it serves as a powerful reminder that malaria remains a very real and deadly threat. Had I not had access to timely treatment, I might not be here today. Millions of others do not have that luxury. We have made tremendous strides in the fight against malaria, but those potent gains are now at risk.

I urge our leaders to do the right thing: Restore funding, resume this lifesaving program ‒ and reaffirm America’s commitment to beating malaria once and for all.

Calvin Anderson is a seventh year NFL veteran and current offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Alongside his wife, Sherée, he leads JB5 Investments and the Lanihun-Anderson Foundation, working to promote financial literacy, empower communities and advocate for global health.