Donor Programs

Malaria was eradicated after World War II in most of the developed world through a combination of drugs, insecticide sprays, screen windows and land management. Many developing countries, however, lacked the resources to get rid of the disease or build and sustain national malaria control programs. Today, more tools, resources and political will are dedicated through public and private donors to fight malaria than ever before. The challenge is to turn these inputs into outcomes – reductions in malaria cases and deaths. 

Resistance, developed naturally by both malaria parasites and mosquito vectors, is the greatest threat to accomplishing this goal. Staying ahead of it requires a fundamental shift in donor mindset from disaster relief to development. Malaria control is complex and requires more than distributing mosquito nets, the currently dominant approach. Endemic countries need support measuring, monitoring and adapting to shifting malaria dynamics. And they need the freedom to apply a combination of effective drugs, mosquito nets and insecticide sprays based on a continuous stream of solid data.

If the history of malaria eradication is any guide, it will depend on long-term economic development.