As we’ve come to expect, World Malaria Day is preceded by a plethora of stories on how many billions of dollars are spent fighting the disease.
An accompanying chorus comes from actors, footballers and any grinning celebrity who wishes to tell the world how excited they are at the prospect of rich countries buying bed-nets for poor countries.
Thankfully one report with a more balanced outlook comes in today’s Financial Times. Author Andrew Jack notes that while malaria has attracted vast amounts of funds and attention, this will largely be pointless if the root causes are not addressed.
Malaria was until recently present throughout the world, yet now 108 countries can claim to be malaria-free, the article explains. In these countries the roots were tackled, mainly due to economic growth.
The article warns that the politicisation and sudden expansion of anti-malaria efforts can mean resources are “misspent while bringing unintended consequences.”
Bed-nets, for example, may not be a long term solution. If malaria persists, will wealthy governments simply continue to donate billions of dollars’ worth of more nets?
But most importantly, emphasis must be placed on measuring outcomes, rather than assuming inputs are automatically A Good Thing.
‘Too many groups hold themselves accountable by “process indicators” such as the number of nets delivered’, continues Jack, ‘rather than the ultimate impact they are having on mortality and morbidity.’
World Malaria Day always creates a lot of noise. Let’s make sure we see through the hype, and observe the most effective ways for people to overcome this curable disease.
Prevention of Malaria is not just mosquito nets but education campaign as well. I am calling every citizen of this planet to support our grass root campaign Kick Malaria Out (KMO) 2009 West Africa.
VPWA has instituted an annual month long awareness campaign, entitled Kick Malaria Out (KMO), designed to create much-needed awareness on
(1) the rate at which Malaria is killing the West African population, especially children and pregnant women and
(2) measures to prevent and eradicate, if not minimize, the Malaria disease within the community with a special emphasis on educating the population on the need to avoid creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Campaign KMO will run from August 20 2009 thru September 20 2009 but the outreach by the combined volunteers is for first two weeks, in the following countries: Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, & Liberia.
Campaign KMO will start in Ghana with Volunteers from all over the world, including medical professionals, students, educators and various professions.
Let us all fight to end Malaria in Africa. Call us and visit our website:
http://www.vpwa.org/kick-malaria-out-2009-campaign
Phone: 233243340112
Email: [email protected]
Posted by: Gabrielle Anne Santa Cruz | 07 May 2009 at 09:50 AM