MALARIA

Malaria is one of the leading causes of death and disease worldwide, especially in the developing world. Malaria is a preventable and treatable infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Malaria kills more than one million people each year, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria is the leading cause of death for children under five. Half the world's population is at risk of malaria - some 3.3 billion people in 109 countries.

Malaria is both a consequence and a root cause of poverty in developing countries: it affects mostly poor people, and it puts a heavy economic burden on countries where it is endemic. Malaria-related-illnesses and mortality cost Africa's economy USD 12 billion per year, a loss of 1.3% of GDP growth per year, and accounts for over 10% of yearly household spending in Africa.

Today, malaria can be prevented, diagnosed and treated with a combination of available tools and sustained financing. A comprehensive approach consisting of protective nets, indoor spraying with insecticide, preventive treatment for pregnant women, diagnostic tests, effective drugs, education, research and advocacy is needed to combat malaria. In 2005, the World Health Assembly set targets of more than 80 percent coverage of these key interventions by 2010. Recent studies in four African countries showed that high coverage of both prevention and treatment interventions can decrease malaria mortality in children by up to 50%, and greatly reduce the overall burden of malaria in both adults and children.

See the World Health Organization website for further information.

Related COMDIS Projects

Project Name	Country/Partner
Malaria microscopy external quality assurance in Pakistan	Pakistan - ASD
Rapid diagnostic tests - operationalising RDTs in Pakistan	Pakistan - ASD
Malaria case management materials in Pakistan	Pakistan - ASD
Intermittent preventive treatment of Malaria in pregnancy trial in Ghana	Ghana - Kumasi
Feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of community health workers using rapid diagnostic tests in home management malaria programme in Ghana	Ghana - Kumasi
Evaluating different distribution methods for longlasting insecticidal nets	Uganda - Malaria Consortium
Evaluation of quality of malaria case management in the public sector after change in the Uganda National Policy to ACTs as first-line treatment	Uganda - Malaria Consortium
Assessment of operational accuracy of the ICT Pf rapid diagnostic test for malaria	Uganda - Malaria Consortium
Evaluation of adherence to and stock management of artemether/lumefantrine unit dosed pre-packed compared to blister packaging	Uganda - Malaria Consortium
Assessment of Home management of malaria using rapid diagnostic tests in Uganda	Uganda - Malaria Consortium
The impact of longlasting insecticidal net usage on malaria and lymphatic filariasis in an area co-endemic for both diseases	Malaria Consortium UK
Evaluation of quality of malaria case management after change in the Uganda national policy to ACTs as first-line treatment	Malaria Consortium UK
Parasite based diagnosis of malaria in Uganda: Effectiveness of rapid diagnostic test in diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy in Uganda	Malaria Consortium UK