None | 26 Mar 2024 | Africa Fighting Malaria
In November 2007, Africa Fighting Malaria (AFM) visited Zanzibar to document the islands' progress in controlling malaria. In this report, we briefly describe the history of malaria control on Zanzibar and track the progression of the current program, which has successfully managed to bring the disease under control.
| 31 Jan 2024 | World Health Organization
In collaboration with The Global Fund, the World Health Organization evaluated the impact of recent investments in malaria control by conducting field evaluations in four countries (Zambia, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Rwanda) in November-December 2007. The main interventions were nationwide distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and artemisinin-combination therapy (ACTs) medicines.
April Harding | 29 Oct 2023 | Center for Global Development
Readers of The Economist were treated to a tantalizing prospect this past week: the possibility of eradicating malaria in the developing world (also featured in The Lancet). The piece presents this hope based on the prospect of developing a malaria vaccine, and the recent proposal of the biggest health program funder in the world - Bill Gates. If a vaccine were indeed close to development, such a prospect would seem feasible.
Martin Alilio et al | 08 Oct 2023 | American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Seven years ago, the removal of taxes and tariffs on insecticide treated nets (ITNs) was considered one of the easiest resolutions for most countries to implement among the targets agreed upon at the African Summit on Roll Back Malaria in Abuja, Nigeria, on April 25, 2000. However, seven years later, 24 of the 39 Abuja signatories continue to impose taxes and tariffs on this life-saving tool. Taxes and tariffs significantly increase the price of an insecticide treated net, reduce affordability, and discourage the commercial sector from importing insecticide treated net products. Consequently, Roll Back Malaria partners are engaged in advocacy efforts to remove taxes and tariffs on insecticide treated nets in malaria-endemic countries of Africa. This viewpoint summarizes key obstacles to the removal of taxes and tariffs that have been identified through a review of country situations. To achieve the goal of producing and supplying more than 160 million insecticide treated nets needed to reach the revised Roll Back Malaria Partnership targets by 2010, tax and tariff reforms are urgently needed. Such reforms must be accompanied by country-specific systems to protect the poor (e.g., through voucher systems for vulnerable groups and other forms of targeted subsidies).
Cutler et al. | 01 Oct 2023 | Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government
We examine the effects of malaria on educational attainment by exploiting geographic variation in malaria prevalence in India prior to a nationwide eradication program in the 1950s. Malaria eradication resulted in gains in literacy and primary school completion rates of approximately 12 percentage points. These estimates imply that the eradication of malaria can explain about half of the gains in these measures of educational attainment between the pre and post-eradication periods in areas where malaria was prevalent. The effects are not present in urban areas, where malaria was not considered to be a problem in the pre-eradication period. The results cannot be explained by convergence across areas. We find gains for both men and women as well as for members of scheduled castes and tribes, a traditionally disadvantaged group.
Richard Tren | 05 Jul 2023 | Africa Fighting Malaria
AFM comments on the United Kingdom's Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) report on malaria control. Read AFM's Full Commentary here.
Roger Bate | 15 May 2023 | American Enterprise Institute
When the World Health Assembly of health ministers from around the globe gathers this month in Geneva, of particular concern should be the performance of its parent organization, the World Health Organization (WHO). Thirty years ago, WHO celebrated its greatest triumph: the eradication of smallpox. Not only has this victory not been repeated, but today WHO rarely comes close to achieving its targets in combating disease.
Richard Tren & Jasson Urbach | 23 Apr 2023 | Africa Fighting Malaria
With the notable exception of the US Agency for International Development and the United Kingdom's Department for International Development almost all OECD donor agencies lack transparency in and accountability for malaira control spending.
Roger Bate & Kathryn Boateng | 23 Apr 2023 | Africa Fighting Malaria
Setting targets has emerged in recent years as a key fundraising tool for disease-control programs, but available evidence shows that most health targets are immeasurable or not measured.
Sharp et al | 25 Jan 2024 | American Journal of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
The Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative is a joint development program between the governments of Mozambique, Swaziland, and South Africa, which includes malaria control as a core component of the initiative.