Agogo community involvement aids malaria vaccine trial
Proactive community involvement in Agogo in the Asante-Akyem North district of Ghana, has boosted efforts by the Malaria Vaccine Trial Alliance (MCTA) project to develop a vaccine for the deadly disease.
The community entry strategy adopted by MCTA to involve chiefs, district assemblies and the churches, helped relay the message about malaria to the community and eased recruitment of participants, causing the work of researchers in the RTS,S vaccine phase 3 project to go clearly ahead of schedule. 
Malaria Drug Arterolane Effective, Safe in Mid-Stage Trial
An experimental malaria drug developed as an alternative to current medicines is showing early signs of being effective and safe, according to a study published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal.
Arterolane, developed by Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited , cleared the disease in 70 percent of patients within 28 days when tried among 230 people with the deadliest forms of malaria in Thailand, India and Tanzania.
Yeast neutralizes malarial parasites in mice without side effects
Promising initial results have been announced in a revolutionary yeast-based approach for the treatment of malaria.
Pre-clinical tests by Functional Technologies Corporation, and the University of Toronto using specifically enhanced yeast on mice, produced a positive effect against malaria. No toxicity was reported, even at 100 times the effective dosage.
Tanzania distributes 15million free mosquito nets
The Tanzania Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) has begun the distribution of free long Lasting Insecticides Treated Bed Nets (LLINs) to all households in the country.
The Programme Manager of the Tanzanian National Malaria Control Programme, Dr. Alex Mwita says the exercise, which adds an impetus to the continued fight against malaria, started in the Southern Zone, covering the regions of Ruvuma, Mtwara and Lindi.
Stolen Malaria Drugs Being Resold in Markets
The menace of stolen donated drugs being sold in the market has been revealed in a study to be published soon.
The Research and Reports in Tropical Medicine’s findings confirm what many experts have long believed to be the case with drugs received from international donors.
Overall, the study found that over 6 percent of the medicine intended for hospitals and clinics was being found on store shelves in retail outlets. 30 percent of artemesinin combination drugs, the best malaria medicine available on the market, was also being resold commercially across Africa.
Insecticide treated wall linings to prevent malaria
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Picture of the durable wall lining |
The Kenya Medical Research Institute, KEMRI, and the Centre for Disease Control, CDC, are analyzing the practicability of using durable insecticide treated wall linings as a preventive mosquito control mechanism.
If successful, the new project will mark the magnificent entry of a new preventive approach in the fight against the malaria scourge in Africa..
Ifakara Health Institute wins innovation award
The Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) in Tanzania has won the 2010 National Award for
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IHI Director Dr. Salim Abdulla receiving the award prize of 20 million Tanzanian Shillings |
Research in Science and Technology (NARST) from the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) for work on the development and social marketing of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) using the “ZUIA MBU” brand.
Social marketing of “Zuia Mbu” nets was introduced in 1997 by the IHI as a strategy to improve coverage of ITNs. It led to the 27% improvement in survival in children under 5 years and contributed to a 60% reduction in childhood anaemia and had a positive impact on malaria in pregnant women. Today the strategy of ITNs has been adopted and scaled up at national and international levels.
Hope as malaria vaccine nears home
Uganda has joined the list of African countries conducting clinical trials of the malaria vaccine in a move to eradicate the disease.
The vaccine to be given to children at birth would complement and enhance existing measures such as bed nets and indoor residual spraying.
Africans text message to check if drugs are rea
Africans text message to check if drugs are real
For Africans wondering whether the malaria drugs they've bought are real, there may soon be a quick way of finding out: sending a text message.
Across the continent, more than 30 percent of malaria medicines are estimated to be fake, and many look identical to the real thing.
World Mosquito Day in Accra
 The Chief Executive of the Free Africa From Mosquitoes foundation (FAFM) NGO, Paul Coonley Boateng, says more education and collaboration of stakeholders is vital to map out effective mosquito controlling strategies.
Speaking at the World Mosquito Day in Chorkor, Accra last Friday Mr. Boateng urged the government to formulate legislations to mete out stiffer punishment to persons and institutions, like construction firms, whose bad practices create artificial mosquito breeding grounds. .
X Factor reveals Cheryl Cole’s collapse after contracting malaria
The X Factor Talent show on ITV has released pictures of Cheryl Cole sick and exhausted seconds after collapsing on The X Factor due to malaria.
The shot was captured just before Cheryl was rushed to hospital suffering from the disease.
The singer, known for her hit, Fight for This Love, was initially diagnosed with severe exhaustion. But doctors then discovered she had contracted deadly malaria while on holiday in Tanzania with boyfriend Derek Hough..
Health experts meet to support advocacy for malaria vaccines
African medical researchers and public health officials have met in Accra to support the introduction of malaria vaccines in worst affected countries.
The scientists, selected for the Malaria Vaccine Advocacy Fellowship (MVAF), met with global health experts to energize dialogue in sub-Saharan Africa about the need to include vaccines in an arsenal that already includes bed nets, anti-malarial drugs, and indoor residual spraying.
Health Ministry to introduce malaria self-test kit
The Ministry of Health is to introduce a malaria self-test kit into the country’s health care system to promote the early detection of malaria cases.
The portable disposable device, EZ-Trust kit, which can be used at home to detect malaria, was presented to the Ministry of Health by the Managing Director of TG Medicals from South Africa, Theo Roelofsz.
Understanding the ecology of the mosquito is key to malaria eradication
Dar Es Salaam – The fight against malaria will not come to an end if scientists do not take time to study the mosquito from its natural ecology – outside of houses – a new study has warned.
The research which was headed by Dr Gerry Killeen, a Senior Research Scientist from Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) reveals that the use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and indoor residual sprays (IRS) do not guarantee eradication of malaria unless they are combined with new approaches based on an understanding of the transmission cycle of the malaria-causing parasite
Kenya develops tool to predict malaria
(AlertNet Correspondent) - The Kenya Medical Research Institute has launched a tool aimed at predicting malaria outbreaks in any area of East Africa two to three months before they occur..
MVI and GSK visit Kintampo Health Research Centre
Officials from the Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health/Malaria Vaccine Initiative (PATH/MVI) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have paid a three day official visit to the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) in Ghana.
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Race for malaria money
European scientists are facing a critical few weeks as they wait to learn if they will receive vital funding for research into a vaccine against malaria.
Without it, Europe could be out of the race to find the holy grail of science.
Malaria kills over a million people a year and infects one in 10 of the world's population.
Ninety per cent of all malaria cases are in sub-Saharan Africa. Worldwide, a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds, although, if caught early, the mosquito-borne disease is curable. .
How malaria-causing parasites survive inside human blood cells
Scientists have discovered a new metabolic pathway used by malaria-causing parasites that apparently helps them survive inside human blood cells.
The finding, by researchers supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, clarifies the picture of parasite metabolism and provides clues to potential weak points in the pathway that might be attacked with drugs. .
Museveni, Kikwete want tax-free malaria medicine
President Yoweri Museveni and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete want taxes and tariffs removed or a waiver on all imported anti-malarial treatment interventions.
They said removing taxes on mosquito nets, mosquito net materials, insecticides, anti-malarial drugs and other goods and services that are essential to the treatment and control of malaria will eliminate barriers that stand in the way to fight the disease..
Drug Subsidy Boosts Campaign Against Malaria
By Steve Mbogo
Kenyans are set to benefit from a major deal that is likely to cut prices of malaria drugs by more than half, easing the pressure on family medical costs.
The initiative will see over the counter malaria drugs cost the same price as those provided in government hospitals in a move that will help strengthen the anti-malaria campaign.
The new deal signed in Kampala involves the Global Fund and six manufacturers of malaria drugs working in a public- private collaboration negotiated by the Clinton Health Access Initiative..
Antibiotics for the prevention of malaria
If mice are administered an antibiotic for three days and are simultaneously infected with malaria, no parasites appear in the blood and life-threatening disease is averted. In addition, the animals treated in this manner also develop robust, long-term immunity against subsequent infections..
Malaria-proof mosquito engineered
Scientists in the US have succeeded in genetically engineering a malaria-resistant mosquito.
The researchers, from the University of Arizona, introduced a gene that affected the insect's gut, meaning the malaria parasite could not develop. .
Vaccine to Protect Pregnant Women from Contracting Malaria?
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have become the first in the world to synthesize the entire protein that is responsible for life-threatening malaria in pregnant women and their unborn children.
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Top research organisation in Ghana to research into new malaria vaccine
A top research institution in Ghana is beginning a phase one clinical trial of a new malaria candidate vaccine, EBA-175.
The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana, Legon with sponsorship from the Division of Microbiology (DMID), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is to undertake the study in the country..
Vaccine to Protect Pregnant Women from Contracting Malaria?
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have become the first in the world to synthesize the entire protein that is responsible for life-threatening malaria in pregnant women and their unborn children.
The protein known as VAR2CSA enables malaria parasites to accumulate in the placenta and can therefore potentially be used as the main component in a vaccine to trigger antibodies that protect pregnant women against malaria. The research team is now planning to test the efficacy of the protein-based vaccine on humans..
June declared anti-malaria month yet Health dept short of drugs, machines
The Health authorities are observing June as anti-malaria month, with an aim to spread awareness about preventive methods to control the disease. The health branch itself, however, has not set its own house in proper order, as the anti-larvae wing is yet to receive Peritherm — the spray medicine to kill mosquitoes. .
Drains linked to lymphatic filariasis and malaria in Dar es Salaam,
United Republic of Tanzania
The most common aquatic habitat in Dar es Salaam - drains - are important vectors for the development of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and malaria, according to new research.
The study, published in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, shows that more than 70% of open Anopheles and Culex larval habitats in Dar es Salaam are human-made, and may be treatable.
Dar es Salaam has an extensive drain network, mostly with inadequate water flow, making Anopheles and Culex larvae common. However, the importance of drains as larval habitats was previously unknown.
New twist on potential malaria drug target acts by trapping parasites in cells
Researchers and colleagues of the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) seeking to block invasion of healthy red blood cells by malaria parasites have instead succeeded in locking the parasites within infected blood cells, potentially containing the disease.
The findings reveal an essential step in the biology of the most common and severe malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and offer a new drug target for fighting one of the world's most common and dangerous infections.
World Malaria Day 2010, Sunday April 25
A Message from African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN)
‘Let’s join hands to fight off malaria for good!’
AMMREN commemorates World Malaria Day
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Dr. Mrs. Bart-Plange answering questions from the media
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The African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) member countries have, with great excitement, joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Malaria Day which fell on Sunday, April 25.
The countries are Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Senegal and The Gambia,
In commemorating the day, the world-wide theme was chosen as Counting Malaria out. AMMREN countries took it from there to rope in the role of the media hence the theme: Counting Malaria Out in Partnership with the Media.
How AMMREN Kenya commemorated World Malaria Day
From Benard Okebe, Kisimu, Kenya
The event was successful. It was attended by 17 journalists drawn from various media houses both electronic and print within the Lake Region of Kisumu, in Kenya.
The group visited an Entomology Laboratory at the KEMRI/CDC Labs in Kisumu where they were taken round by George Olang', followed by a community outreach visit at a place known as Usoma Village, which is in Kisumu East District, some 7 kilometers away from the city. The media had an opportunity to interview Mzee, Asman Sawo, a village elder participating in an on-going study on the control of the vector in the area.
Prof Binka wins award
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Prof Fred Binka ( Right) receiving his award |
The Dean of the School of Public Health of the University of Ghana, Professor Fred Newton Binka, has been awarded the Ronald Ross Medal for his contribution to research on a wide range of diseases in the tropics.
This is the first time someone from a developing country has received the award. Prof Binka was awarded the medal together with Prof Geoffrey Targett.
The Ronald Ross Medal was instituted in 1997 by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
The medal was set up to commemorate the centenary of Ross’ discovery of the transmission of malaria by the mosquito.
Outcome of AMMREN/INESS Sensitisation Workshop held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 18th - 20th March, 2010
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