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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/gsk-change/2015/mar/25/live-q-and-a-is-beating-malaria-unlocking-africas-economic-potential
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| Live Q&A: Is beating malaria the key to unlocking Africa’s economic potential? | Live Q&A: Is beating malaria the key to unlocking Africa’s economic potential? |
| (2 months later) | |
| Since 2000, deaths globally from malaria have almost halved. Increased use of preventative tools, such as bed nets, anti-malarial treatments and insecticide sprays have all helped to loosen malaria’s grip. This is partly thanks to the millennium development goals (MDGs), which galvanised efforts to defeat the disease. | Since 2000, deaths globally from malaria have almost halved. Increased use of preventative tools, such as bed nets, anti-malarial treatments and insecticide sprays have all helped to loosen malaria’s grip. This is partly thanks to the millennium development goals (MDGs), which galvanised efforts to defeat the disease. |
| However, the fight against malaria is at a critical juncture. There are new medicines, treatments and preventative tools in the pipeline that could help make further inroads against the disease. But there are threats on the horizon too – rising resistance to anti-malarials, funding cuts and concern that the new sustainable development goals (which succeed MDGs) could dilute the focus on malaria. | However, the fight against malaria is at a critical juncture. There are new medicines, treatments and preventative tools in the pipeline that could help make further inroads against the disease. But there are threats on the horizon too – rising resistance to anti-malarials, funding cuts and concern that the new sustainable development goals (which succeed MDGs) could dilute the focus on malaria. |
| Malaria is relentless. This mosquito-borne disease still claims more than 500,000 lives every year – 90% of them in sub-Saharan Africa, mostly children under five. | Malaria is relentless. This mosquito-borne disease still claims more than 500,000 lives every year – 90% of them in sub-Saharan Africa, mostly children under five. |
| Not only does this bring a heavy human cost, but a heavy economic cost too. Children miss out on school, parents cannot go to work. As much as 40 per cent of health spending in Africa goes on fighting malaria. All in all, it’s estimated that malaria costs Africa more than $12 billion every year. Studies suggest just a 10 per cent reduction in malaria could add 0.3 percentage points to economic output of countries with a high incidence of the disease. | Not only does this bring a heavy human cost, but a heavy economic cost too. Children miss out on school, parents cannot go to work. As much as 40 per cent of health spending in Africa goes on fighting malaria. All in all, it’s estimated that malaria costs Africa more than $12 billion every year. Studies suggest just a 10 per cent reduction in malaria could add 0.3 percentage points to economic output of countries with a high incidence of the disease. |
| So how can we ensure that the rates of malaria parasite transmission continue to fall, and help ease the burden of this disease on Africa’s health and economic potential? | So how can we ensure that the rates of malaria parasite transmission continue to fall, and help ease the burden of this disease on Africa’s health and economic potential? |
| Business, government and NGOs all have a role to play in keeping up the fight against malaria – innovating to find ways to fight the disease, and supporting frontline health workers. Healthcare company GSK is working with partners to research new malaria treatments and vaccines, and investing in community initiatives to help fight the disease through education and prevention. | Business, government and NGOs all have a role to play in keeping up the fight against malaria – innovating to find ways to fight the disease, and supporting frontline health workers. Healthcare company GSK is working with partners to research new malaria treatments and vaccines, and investing in community initiatives to help fight the disease through education and prevention. |
| How can we stimulate innovation in the field of preventative measures and medicines? How can we strengthen health systems so they are better able to manage malaria? What do we need to do to ensure efforts to defeat malaria remain a high priority? How can we make sure that the voice of the patient is heard in these discussions? Could beating malaria hold the key to unlocking Africa’s economic potential – what are the other factors we need to consider? | How can we stimulate innovation in the field of preventative measures and medicines? How can we strengthen health systems so they are better able to manage malaria? What do we need to do to ensure efforts to defeat malaria remain a high priority? How can we make sure that the voice of the patient is heard in these discussions? Could beating malaria hold the key to unlocking Africa’s economic potential – what are the other factors we need to consider? |
| Join our expert panel on Thursday 4 June between 1pm-2pm to discuss and debate the best ways to maintain the momentum against malaria. | Join our expert panel on Thursday 4 June between 1pm-2pm to discuss and debate the best ways to maintain the momentum against malaria. |
| Click here to register your interest in the Q&A | Click here to register your interest in the Q&A |
| Panel: | Panel: |
| Minne Iwamoto, director of Africa Malaria Partnership, GSKMinne manages the Africa Malaria Partnership at GSK, to improve the prevention and treatment of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa by working with organisations on the ground to promote the use of existing interventions, such as bed nets and indoor residual spraying. | Minne Iwamoto, director of Africa Malaria Partnership, GSKMinne manages the Africa Malaria Partnership at GSK, to improve the prevention and treatment of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa by working with organisations on the ground to promote the use of existing interventions, such as bed nets and indoor residual spraying. |
| David Kaslow, vice-president, product development, PATHDavid oversees PATH’s six programmes in product development: China, diagnostics, drug development, PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), vaccine access and delivery, and vaccine development. He has more than 25 years’ experience in vaccine research and product development. Before joining PATH in 2012 as director of MVI’s work to drive the development of safe and effective vaccines against malaria, he held key advisory positions with MVI and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, related to malaria vaccines. | David Kaslow, vice-president, product development, PATHDavid oversees PATH’s six programmes in product development: China, diagnostics, drug development, PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), vaccine access and delivery, and vaccine development. He has more than 25 years’ experience in vaccine research and product development. Before joining PATH in 2012 as director of MVI’s work to drive the development of safe and effective vaccines against malaria, he held key advisory positions with MVI and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, related to malaria vaccines. |
| James Whiting, executive director, Malaria No MoreJames has been executive director of Malaria No More since 2012. The organisation aims to inspire the public to rally behind the fight and encourage the UK government to lead the charge and fund innovative, impactful programmes to save lives in Africa. | James Whiting, executive director, Malaria No MoreJames has been executive director of Malaria No More since 2012. The organisation aims to inspire the public to rally behind the fight and encourage the UK government to lead the charge and fund innovative, impactful programmes to save lives in Africa. |
| Dennis Di Mascio, market access director, GSKDennis has been working on GSK’s malaria vaccine development programme since 2009. He is leading the market access and implementation strategy for GSK’s malaria candidate vaccine, working with partners at global and local level to prepare for a potential roll out of the vaccine candidate, complementing current malaria interventions. | Dennis Di Mascio, market access director, GSKDennis has been working on GSK’s malaria vaccine development programme since 2009. He is leading the market access and implementation strategy for GSK’s malaria candidate vaccine, working with partners at global and local level to prepare for a potential roll out of the vaccine candidate, complementing current malaria interventions. |
| Alfred Wise, Living Goods Country Director, UgandaAlfred was Country Director - Tanzania for KickStart International, which sells small-scale irrigation equipment for rural farmers. He led an 80-person team to significantly improve sales, increase operational performance and achieve targets. He was President of a leading social enterprise consulting firm, Community Wealth Partners, where he had the opportunity to develop strategies and business plans with many entrepreneurial nonprofit leaders and donors across the U.S. Alfred also was SVP/General Manager at NYSE-listed Snyder Communications, Alfred holds a B.A. from Columbia University. | |
| Jaya Banerji, Director Communications and Advocacy, MMVJaya leads a small, effective team of communications professionals at Medicines for Malaria Venture. She has been responsible for raising awareness about malaria and MMV’s research work since 2006. MMV is a not-for-profit product development partnership that seeks to discover, develop and deliver new and affordable medicines for malaria for the world’s most vulnerable people. Its ultimate vision is a world free of malaria. |