Expert Panel Discusses New Frontiers in Malaria and Malaria Eradication

The expert panel, hosted by the Global Health Council, highlights the need for new solutions to reach goal of eradication. The topic of malaria eradication has gained traction recently due to the Gates Foundation's Call for New Global Commitment to Chart a Course for Malaria Eradication. A webcast of the panel is also available online.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 24, 2008 -- At a panel held Wednesday in advance of World Malaria Day, speakers took on the topic of malaria eradication (http://www.malariafreefuture.org/)--the goal of eliminating malaria entirely by destroying the factors that cause the transmission of the disease. In recent months, there has been much interest in the topic of eradication, spurred by the announcement in October of 2007 by the Gates Foundation's Call for New Global Commitment to Chart a Course for Malaria Eradication. View the panel on malaria eradication online. (http://www.kaisernetwork.org/healthcast/ghc/23apr08)

Speakers at the panel discussion (http://www.kaisernetwork.org/healthcast/ghc/23apr08), hosted by the Global Health Council, discussed the next steps necessary to develop a serious plan towards eradication.

"When I hear conversation about malaria eradication, I think, how does my country fit into that?" said Antoinette Tshefu, MD, PhD, MPH, and professor at the Kinshasa School of Public Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC.) "The DRC has a huge problem with malaria- 100% of our population is at risk, and malaria is transmitted all year round- not just in one season. Any strategy for malaria eradication must include a plan for all high-burden countries, including those like the DRC that are more challenging to work in."

Other panelists included Admiral Timothy Ziemer, the President's Malaria Coordinator, also spoke and discussed the successes of the PMI program in their efforts to effectively prevent and treat malaria in sub-Saharan Africa to date. Also, Maurice Middleburg, Vice President for Public Policy of the Global Health Council, who discussed the healthcare systems and need for investment in training of healthcare workers in Africa.

In addition, Dr. Christopher Plowe, Professor and Chief, Malaria Section, Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist, Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine highlighted the key role a vaccine could play in a plan for eradication. Past successful eradication efforts, such as smallpox, relied heavily on vaccines to achieve their goals.

Dr. Roger Glass, Director of the Fogarty International Center, NIH moderated the panel.

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