The idea of “integration” of disease efforts is gaining ground in the public health world. But what does that mean in the case of malaria, and will it actually work? With increasing pressure on public health spending to maximize efficiency and efficacy, from both donor agencies as well as within individual governments and Ministries of Health, there has been a push to explore options for … [Read more...]
Introducing a New Look for Malaria.com, and Welcome to Our Diagnostics Issue!
This week we are launching a new look for Malaria.com, the website aimed at bringing together all stakeholders involved in the fight against malaria. While we will continue to provide up-to-date and accurate information about malaria causes, symptoms, treatment, and research, we will now also publish a quarterly online “issue” devoted to a specific topic related to malaria. We hope that these … [Read more...]
Too Much of a Good Thing: Why Over-Diagnosis of Malaria Can Be a Big Problem
When the challenges of malaria control are discussed, most people probably think first about the difficulties of preventing mosquito bites, or perhaps how to get treatment to the millions of people that live far from hospitals and clinics. These are clearly enormous obstacles to preventing and treating malaria, but similarly important is the need for accurate diagnosis. Perhaps surprisingly, while … [Read more...]
World Malaria Day 2014 – How Best to Invest in Malaria Prevention and Control
Each year, World Malaria Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the current status of the fight against malaria. We are in the middle year of the World Malaria Day theme of “Invest in the Future. Defeat Malaria," which is set to last until 2015. Funding for malaria control and prevention, as with all international public health endeavors, has always been perceived as a critical issue, but … [Read more...]
The Future of Subsidized Malaria Drugs (ACTs)
In November 2012, the Board of the Global Fund meets to determine the future of the Affordable Medicines Facility – malaria. Should it be cut, to make better use of limited funds? Or does it still have a role to play in the fight against malaria? In late 2009, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (hereafter, the Global Fund) launched an initiative called the Affordable … [Read more...]
Malaria meeting
QUESTION FACT meeting for malaria control programme directors in Asia are proposing to host a meeting in Penang, Malaysia probably in September 2012 for the all the Head of Malaria Department. Can you kindly update us the details of Head of Malaria Department (name, job position, company address & contacts) so that we can contact him/her regarding the details of the meeting. Looking … [Read more...]
As American as…Plasmodium vivax?
While its evolutionary history is disputed, there’s no doubt malaria was a key factor in the history of the Americas I am in the midst of a fascinating book about the way the world changed after Columbus “discovered” America in 14921. Called, appropriately, 1493: Uncovering the World Columbus Created, it is author Charles C. Mann’s follow-up to an earlier, equally engaging book on pre-Colombian … [Read more...]
Looking Ahead to 2012 and Beyond – What is the Future of the Global Fund?
At the beginning of December I went to the 60th annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Attended by over 3500 scientists, practitioners, clinicians and students from around the world, the meeting is one of the pre-eminent global events for discussing and disseminating information related to all tropical diseases and health issues. Malaria, as you might expect, has … [Read more...]
Where There is No Medicine, Let Alone a Doctor
Remote or poorly accessible communities create special challenges for delivery of health care. There were goats in my classroom this morning. Quite adorable kids, but unfortunately not the right species for my health survey. The school is located in Bunda District, sandwiched between Lake Victoria and the long western arm of Serengeti National Park, which stops only a few kilometers from the … [Read more...]
The “E” word and the “V” word: Two Holy Grails of Malaria Control
The Roll Back Malaria Partnership talks confidently of elimination—many others question if this is possible without new interventions. The recent publication of the first Phase 3 clinical trial for a malaria vaccine shows promise, but is it actually good enough? REVIEW OF: Roll Back Malaria Partnership, “Eliminating Malaria: Learning from the Past, Looking Ahead”, Progress & … [Read more...]