A global roadmap, a $100 m. malaria initiative, critical actions in China and Kenya, and participation by 14 health ministers, top-level UN officials, and corporate leaders made the 2008 awards for the best in anti-pandemic business action more than a celebration.

Eight CEOs; the President of Liberia; top UN and Global Fund officials; and the co-inventor of “base of the pyramid” explain why and how business needs to step up its action in the fight in a special issue of Business Action magazine.

An unprecedented package of cross-sector actions is off and running. It includes a first-of-its kind UN/business-sector “coordination clearinghouse;” tighter corporate integration into the malaria fight led by the NY Stock Exchange; and a business plan to take a local Kenyan government initiative national through corporate critical-action teams.

Chevron Corporation’s efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS—including a computer-based training module that has reached more than 21,000 employees—were recently honored with the World Petroleum Congress award for social responsibility.