[qj4714]

This is a commendable goal, but I feel like it is all too tempting to focus narrowly on one disease and ignore a more holistic approach towards addressing the underlying problems. I have travelled to many countries in Africa and the big difference between countries that are sucessful in addressing malaria and others that are not are having better health systems and trained health workers. Giving out bed nets and spraying has limita. There are a lot of interesting techologies that may one eradicate malaria such as a vaccine or genetically modifying the mosquitos, but it is too short sighted when looking at the problem holistically.

Too often donors are tempted to focus on a single disease because it is much easier to measure progress and it is easier to "sell" to the public. But when you dedicate so much resources towards a single disease you're distorting the health system, and it becomes more susceptible to shocks like Ebola.

[blackoil]

Problems of a poor country are in vicious circle. Poverty, poor health, poor education, poor governance, ignorance all feed on each other. Of these investing in health and education give most long term benefits, of which health is most easily accepted (a dying person is more prone to accept support of strangers). Also investment in malaria, have a halo effect including awareness of hygiene, basic training for health workers.

[drzaiusapelord]

I was thinking something similar. Addressing just the disease is fine and good, but the terrible sanitation and lack of medical access issues are still there. Are those who normally going to die of malaria now going to die of something else due to environmental and social economic conditions. I guess this is how progress works. You take out the big baddies first and work your way down. The smaller baddies might also have an easier and cheaper treatment plan.

[JoeAltmaier]

Malaria isn't a small one. Its a corrosive disease that not only reduces the ability to work, it makes you a burden on your family/community. Solve that one, there's loads more energy left to solve the others, locally.