Today, the Kaiser Family Foundation hosted a briefing to examine the role of the United States in combating malaria world-wide. Jen Kates of the Kaiser Family Foundation moderated the discussion which included Sir Richard Feachem, Professor of Global Health at UCSF and UC Berkeley, Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer, the US Coordinator of the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), Mark Green from Malaria No More, David Brandling-Bennett from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Natasha Bilimoria from Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Amid a changing global context, the panelists agreed that the time to actively combat malaria is now. “This is very much malaria’s moment,” said Green.

Here are some highlights:

Sir Richard Feachem: The nature of the fight against malaria changed dramatically in 2007 with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s call for eradication. Since this ambitious goal was set, efforts have focused on “shrinking the malaria map” through prevention and treatment in the areas where malaria transmission is highest and by and researching and modifying tools used in the fight against the disease. Most of the resources have gone to the first and last areas. Currently, 61 countries still have high transmission rates, while an additional 39 countries have announced national elimination plans or are headed in that direction. Now, two complex tasks remain for the future: sustained control and elimination of malaria. Sustained control involves reducing transmission by limiting mosquito breeding and reducing bites with bed nets and insecticides, as well as more prompt diagnosis and effective treatment. For elimination, new tools are needed, including to facilitate active surveillance and more focus on cross-border collaboration. Research will be vital to all of these, as will new regional initiatives that are already working to eliminate malaria within their borders.

Rear Adm. Tim Ziemer: Today, malaria is a strategic component of the US foreign assistance program. There are more financial resources behind the anti-malaria movement than ever before as well as impressive commitments made by political leaders, including Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama. Now, it is necessary to build on existing foundations and past successes and move toward sustainable health systems. The current administration and congress are clearly behind this. With strong leadership and a commitment to collaboration, great successes can be achieved. Using proven effective tools, malaria-related deaths can be reduced by 50% by 2015. A malaria strategy is being drafted which defines targets and ways to collaborate across all sectors, sustain programs, and review best practices. PMI will build on this plan and collaborate with other key initiatives to support health development programs and sustained health systems.

Mark Green: This is malaria’s moment. The current administration is building on past progress; there are impressive collaborative efforts to scale up malaria prevention and treatment and there are considerable resources dedicated to these efforts – it is now time to seize this moment. It is crucial to integrate malaria into other programs, including making it a part of maternal health efforts. For too long now, afflicted regions have assumed malaria is a given – we need to send a clear message to reverse this assumption and demonstrate that malaria can be eliminated.

Natasha Bilimoria: The Global Fund has given $6.5 billion to 83 countries world-wide and now, we’re starting to see results through reductions in incidence rates and child mortality. The country-led approach is becoming increasingly important to the Global Fund effort. The Global Fund has also launched the Affordable Medicines Facility for Malaria (AMFM) – a pilot program in 11 countries allowing ACT to be purchased at a reduced price. Health systems are key to future efforts – they will help create sustainable mechanisms within these regions.

David Brandling-Bennett: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has five main initiatives: developing vaccines, modifying drugs and treatments, developing replacements and modifications for insecticides used on nets, strengthening national programs, and increased emphasis on advocacy. Although health systems are receiving more and more attention and resources, efforts to strengthen key capacities need to be integrated with existing programs and efforts.

-Pooja Gupta