DAVOS, Switzerland - Business leaders attending the World Economic Forum have begun a $100 million fund-raising campaign to fight malaria in Africa.
News Corporation President Peter Chernin and Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson say they are confident the campaign will raise the full amount despite world economic problems.
They say the campaign already has commitments of $40 million and will benefit from expertise from supporting companies.
They told reporters Saturday they launched the Malaria Capital Campaign at the meeting of government and business leaders in the Swiss Alps.
The campaign aims to give every African at risk of the disease anti-malaria tools by the end of 2010 -- a key first step to ending nearly one million malaria deaths a year.