NORWICH, United Kingdom — The U.S. President Malaria Initiative (PMI) originated in 2005 to help create a world without malaria. The initiative aims to expand proven and highly cost-effective malaria prevention and treatment measures by partnering with country leadership and their National Malaria Control Programs. Here is how the U.S. President Malaria Initiative is addressing malaria in Africa.
Facts About Malaria in Africa
Malaria is common in many African countries because of the habitable climate for Plasmodium Falciparum, the malaria parasite most likely to cause life-threatening illness. There are more than 200 million cases of malaria every year, resulting in at least half a million deaths annually. More than 90% of these estimated malaria deaths occur in Africa. In 2022 alone, four African countries accounted for more than half of all malaria deaths worldwide: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (12.3%), Uganda (5.1%), Nigeria (26.8%) and Mozambique (4.2%).
The Persistence of Malaria
Africa has a ratio of 2.3 health workers per 1,000 people, while the Americas has 24.8 health workers per 1000 people. For a more vivid picture, in 2019, Nigeria recorded 191,106 deaths due to malaria, while there were no deaths due to malaria in the U.S. that same year. The inadequate health care systems across Africa make it more difficult for people with malaria to access appropriate treatment.
Furthermore, findings have indicated that malaria parasites mutate and become resistant to antimalarial drugs. For example, Chloroquine, a drug used to treat malaria in the ’60s and ’70s, became ineffective by the end of the ’70s, which brought about a switch to a combination of sulphadoxine and pyrimethamine (SP). However, resistance is now increasing to this drug combination in some parts of Africa, as studies in Tanzania and Kenya have shown high rates of resistance to SP in children being treated for malaria. High antimalaria resistance has also been reported in Rwanda, Eritrea, Gabon, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo.
Additionally, new antimalarial drugs that fight the resistance are too expensive to access for the average African. This limits the options of available antimalarial medications for use when existing ones become ineffective. For instance, an antimalaria drug known as artemisinin combination therapy costs about $2.50 per adult treatment. According to a 2015 World Bank Report, 41% of the Sub-Saharan African population lives on less than $1.90 a day, making the drug expensive.
Notable Efforts of The U.S. President Malaria Initiative (PMI) in Africa
Since its establishment, the PMI has distributed more than 500 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets across Africa.
- In 2022, PMI supported Guinea’s National Malaria Control Program by distributing 3.7 million mosquito nets across isolated communities and islands in Guinea to combat malaria.
- In Malawi, in conjunction with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PMI distributed 14,500 insecticide-treated bed nets to the most affected victims of a natural disaster called Cyclone Freddy in 2023.
- In Chisenga Island, Zambia, PMI partnered with Zambia’s National Malaria Elimination Program in 2020 to spray households inland with insecticide and provide mosquito nets to families living within 30 meters of the water surrounding the community.
- In 2019, the PMI, in conjunction with Tanzania’s National Malaria Control Program, the local district health authorities and VectorLink, helped spray refugee camps with insecticides in Kakonko, Kasulu and Kobondo Refugee Districts in Tanzania.
Achievements of The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Across Africa
- In Angola, the percentage of households that own mosquito nets increased from 11% to 31%. Also, the rate of pregnant women who have access to antimalaria drugs increased from 1% to 19%.
- In Nigeria, the percentage of children who slept under mosquito nets increased from 29% to 41%. The rate of pregnant women who have access to antimalaria drugs has also increased from 5% to 31%.
- PMI has played a vital role in Mali by spraying more than 2.8 million homes with insecticide and distributing 22 million nets to prevent malaria. The program has also provided more than 24.8 million fast-acting malaria drugs and 14.1 million preventive treatments to pregnant women.
- In Ethiopia, more than 50.3 million nets have undergone distribution and 9.2 million people have accessed rapid malaria diagnostic tests. PMI has also contributed to Ethiopia’s health care system by organizing more than 124,300 training for its health care workers on how to fight malaria.
- In Uganda, PMI has distributed 17.1 million nets, increasing the percentage of households with nets from 16% to 83%. Also, the rate of pregnant women who sleep under mosquito nets increased from 10% to 65% and more than 19.8 million fast-acting malaria drugs have been delivered.
- In Liberia, PMI has delivered 27.6 million fast-acting malaria drugs. Its health care workers have also received 18,800 trainings on how to fight malaria. Additionally, 23.6 million rapid diagnostic tests have been taken to help fight malaria. Also, the percentage of pregnant women who have access to malaria treatment has increased from 10% to 63%.
The facts and figures show that PMI has significantly affected the fight against malaria in Africa.