2007-04-17 20:27:14 -

WASHINGTON, April 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PSI today announced the launch of Five & Alive, a global campaign targeting children under the age of five with malaria prevention and treatment, safe water, micronutrients, pneumonia treatment and prevention and treatment of diarrheal disease programs. The new initiative combines education, products and services to improve the health of children.

Each year 350-500 million cases of malaria lead to more than one million deaths, mainly African children, and pneumonia remains the leading cause of death of children under 5 years of age in

the world. "All children, no matter where they are born, deserve a healthy start in life," says PSI Board Member Ashley Judd. "Nearly 11 million children die before their fifth birthday and the majority of these deaths are preventable."

PSI's child survival programs reach children in more than 20 countries worldwide. Using targeted subsidies and free distribution, PSI provides risk groups with long-lasting insecticidal nets and malaria treatment, antibiotics for pneumonia, micronutrients, and water treatment tablets and rehydration salts. Moreover, PSI collaborates with strategic partners such as Malaria No More, http://www.malarianomore.com/, to raise awareness of the devastating reality of malaria specifically on children under the age of five.

"There is a simple way to prevent malaria," adds Judd. "For less than $10, you can provide a life-saving bed net to a child at risk and protect that child from contracting malaria for up to 5 years."

About PSI:

PSI (Population Services International http://www.psi.org/) is a nonprofit organization that harnesses the vitality of the private sector to address the health problems of low-income and vulnerable populations in more than 60 developing countries. With programs in child health, safe water, malaria, nutrition, family planning and HIV/AIDS, PSI deploys commercial marketing strategies to promote health products, services and healthy behavior that enable low-income and vulnerable people to lead healthier lives.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Five & Alive: Marshall Stowell | mstowell@psi.org | 202-572-4619 Qorvis Communications: Jennifer Stoltz | jstoltz@qorvis.com | 202-448-3145

Source: PSI