USAID conference on Malaria wraps up in Malawi, US$80 mln invested to control the disease

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through PMI, has invested approximately $80 million in controlling malaria in Malawi through distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets, conducting indoor residual spraying campaigns against malarial mosquitoes, and providing life-saving anti-malarial drugs and preventing malaria in pregnancy.

Following on this investment, USAID and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), through the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), in collaboration with the University of Malawi, College of Medicine, and the Malaria Alert Center, organized a research dissemination conference titled “The Future for Malaria Control in Malawi”.

The conference which closed on 21 August 2009, took place at the Malawi Institute of Management in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe from August 20-21, 2009.

The conference highlighted the large body of research conducted in Malawi on this killer disease which continues to plague Malawians.

Malawi has been a leader in malaria control innovations in East and Southern Africa. These innovations have included the pioneering of one of the region’s first programs focusing on malaria treatment for all pregnant women and implementing a nation-wide insecticide-treated mosquito net distribution program.

This meeting of top scientists in the country provides an opportunity for malaria researchers to share the latest discoveries in how to keep Malawian families safe from malaria.

The meeting included sessions on best ways to treat children with malaria, mosquito resistance to insecticides in Malawi, and the positive health impact that indoor residual spraying against mosquitoes has had for the local population.

Key non-governmental organizations working in Malawi presented the results of recent malaria control programs, such as community health education initiatives and insecticide-treated mosquito net distribution programs.

PMI in a statement said it was proud to support Malaria research in the country and applauds Malawi’s leadership role in malaria control in Africa.