The InterDependent

MONROVIA--Malaria is by far the biggest killer in Liberia. The entire country-from the capital's city center to the border regions-is considered endemic in the parasitic disease. Prevention and treatment of malaria are understandably among the country's most pressing public health challenges.

In recent legislation, two U.S. House of Representative committees have mounted an intense campaign against American aid for family planning internationally. Valerie DeFillipo has been on the front lines of this battle for more than three decades and in July she was named president of Americans for UNFPA, a nongovernmental citizens’ support group for the United Nations Population Fund.

Romania has committed $20,000 to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, its first grant in the arena of polio vaccines. The money will inoculate 40,000 children; Britain will match one-fifth of the amount to vaccinate 8,000 more children. Romania is the 20th European country to take part in the initiative; the total donations from all European countries is $1.78 billion.