By Irene Sinoya irenesinoya@gmail.com In many parts of Western Kenya, the beginning of heavy rainfall is always accompanied by an upsurge of malaria cases. The prolonged rains increase the amount of stagnant water in the environment, hence providing a breeding place for infectious mosquitoes that cause malaria. In malaria-endemic regions like Bungoma and Kakamega County,…
COVID-19 pandemic looms large over a malaria-free future
Despite the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world held the line in protecting historic gains against malaria this year, saving hundreds of thousands of lives, preserving fragile health systems, and keeping malaria at bay in countries with zero local cases. However, long-term success in reaching a malaria-free world within a generation…
Urgent call to African leaders to support women access to lifesaving malaria treatment
The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership to End Malaria has Tuesday issued an urgent appeal to leaders and health policymakers across Africa to better protect millions of pregnant women and their newborn children from the devastating consequences caused by malaria in pregnancy. Malaria strikes hardest against pregnant women and children in sub-Saharan Africa, who are…
President Kenyatta picked to Chair the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA)
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced his four priorities for his two-year term as Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). His overall aim is to eliminate malaria from the continent by 2030. The game-changing agenda addresses major challenges in the battle against malaria. These challenges include the insufficient engagement of women, children and…
New global plan to end TB
The Stop TB Partnership launched the Global Plan to End TB 2018-2022 that calls for 2.6 billion USD per year for vital research and development of new tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic tools, new drug regimens and a new vaccine, and 13 billion USD per year for TB care and prevention. With the new Global Plan, the…
MMV@20: Leaders say innovative tools still needed to conquer malaria
The war against malaria will not be won without increased innovation for new, transformative tools, Dr David Reddy, CEO, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has said. Speaking while marking the 20th Anniversary of the MMV, Dr Davd noted that those last 20 years have offered this war vital lessons. “Today is a chance for us…
Tanzania steps war against malaria
Determined to lessen the malaria burden, the United Republic of Tanzania has announced the launch of its national Zero Malaria Starts With Me campaign, becoming the 11th nation to join the ever-growing Pan-African movement. Tanzania is among the highest-burden countries with 93% of the population at risk of malaria The campaign was launched during the…
Strengthening health systems to better fight infectious diseases in Africa
The WHO reports that 13 million people die from infectious diseases each year. In some countries, one in every two deaths is a result of an infectious disease; while in Africa, diseases like HIV/Aids, TB, malaria and hepatitis account for the majority of these deaths. Dr Izukanji Sikazwe, CEO of the Centre of Infectious Disease…