MALARIA: Africa Fighting Malaria Updates and Events

Africa Fighting Malaria Updates and Events Africa Fighting Malaria (AFM) seeks to raise awareness of the huge burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and promote sensible policies for long-term solutions.

Prioritizing malaria control in a time of foreign aid austerity With the entire US budget on the chopping block, small-ticket items such as the US global health budget-a total expenditure of around $8.6 billion-will necessarily attract less attention than sequestration of the defense budget or cuts to Social Security. But while America's global health budget consumes only a fraction of one percent of total government spending, these funds can mean life or death for thousands around the globe. In straightened financial times, budget cuts should be based on an assessment of which programs work best and an evaluation of how to strengthen the most successful interventions while trimming the fat from less effective ones. This Outlook assesses the impact and effectiveness of the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) and finds that PMI has been remarkably successful in its management and control practices, cutting malaria incidence and child mortality rates, compensating for failures in other global health programs, and keeping corruption levels low. Despite all these strengths, PMI faces nearly 5 percent budget cuts (or even termination by the end of 2013), while other multilateral programs that are widely acknowledged to be less effective are picking up new money. Without the help of PMI, many of the significant gains that have been made in malaria control could be reversed.   Read More  Other News Why we should keep funding the President's Malaria Initiative President's Malaria Initiative's 'mystery' solved Malaria plan under scrutiny Events and Information October 9-12, 2012: The Road to Malaria Elimination 2020: Investment and Beyond in Johannesburg, South Africa. October 10-12, 2012: Challenges in Malaria Research: Progress towards elimination in Basel, Switzerland. Check out the book "The Excellent Powder: DDT's Political and Scientific History". AMFm and PMI's Commitment to Global Efforts to Ensure Prompt Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment   The PMI is committed to ensuring that all persons with malaria are promptly diagnosed and treated with a safe and efficacious antimalarial drug. In sub-Saharan Africa, children under five in impoverished, rural areas are at the greatest risk of dying from malaria and are the focus of PMI's efforts. Since a large proportion of patients with malaria are treated within the private sector, improving the quality of malaria treatment through private pharmacies and drug shops is critical. PMI is committed to working with the Global Fund, the WHO, the RBM, and other partners to support evidence-based strategies to introduce malaria diagnostics, treatment, and referral support for suspected severe febrile cases in children in the private sector, when endorsed by national malaria control programs. Read More A foreign policy win for Obama: Embrace, and invest in, the President's Malaria Initiative The Obama administration is taking it on the chin on foreign policy. The Arab Spring has given way to a violent winter, and with the situation in the Middle East likely to worsen, Gov. Mitt Romney will have plenty of ammunition for the debates, especially the foreign policy showdown on Oct. 22. In response, President Obama would be wise to talk up our effective aid programs and the soft power they provide with regional allies. One such program stands out: the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI). Pointing to the enormous success of this program - and announcing a budget increase - would score valuable points with swing voters and potentially even help Democrats pull some of them off the fence.  Read More  Also on FightingMalaria.org News AFM Articles Research About AFM Contact Us Donate to AFM Please email Africa@fightingmalaria.orgfor more information.