FHI - Malaria

Family Health International, a global leader in infectious disease prevention and management, is working to ensure access to quality malaria prevention and treatment services in the developing world and to develop more effective antimalarial drugs.

FHI researchers have a wealth of experience in the clinical, behavioral, health, and economic issues that surround malaria prevention and treatment. Our scientists have studied malaria in pregnancy, co-infection with HIV, the socioeconomic and behavioral aspects of malaria prevention, and many other related topics.

FHI is well positioned to integrate malaria prevention and treatment into its HIV/AIDS, family planning, tuberculosis, and other infectious disease programs in Africa and Asia, the regions most affected by malaria. FHI's approach to addressing malaria includes

improving the distribution of mosquito nets and insecticide-treated materials using existing networks of community organizations
building the capacity of medical and community-health workers to treat malaria, especially in children and pregnant women
equipping home-based care networks to provide rapid malaria diagnosis and treatment
launching behavior change communication campaigns that raise awareness and promote treatment
incorporating the latest research findings on new treatments into programs

Highlighted Programs

FHI's Village Malaria Worker Program in Cambodia

Since 2006, FHI has supported a malaria program in the province of Pailin in western Cambodia, an epicenter for the development and spread of drug�resistant strains of the malaria parasite. Funded by Oxford University, the program provides free diagnosis and immediate treatment with artemisinin combination therapy. FHI trains village health support groups to provide a range of malaria prevention and treatment services at no cost, thus eliminating the incentive to make fake drugs and the need for those affected to seek treatment outside their villages. Learn more �

Malaria Prevention for Cocoa Farmers in C�te d'Ivoire and Ghana
FHI has joined forces with the World Cocoa Foundation and National Confectioners Association to reduce HIV/AIDS and malaria among cocoa farmers and their families in C�te d'Ivoire and Ghana. The project operates alongside the Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP), a public-private partnership focused on improving the social and economic wellbeing of small farmers. FHI is helping the STCP integrate malaria and HIV education into its "farmer field schools" that train cocoa farmers in quality cocoa production and crop marketing. FHI is also training peer educators and equipping them with bed nets, antimalarial medications, and condoms to share with their communities. Learn more �

Pfizer Malaria Partnership in Ghana
FHI is partnering with Pfizer Inc. and the Ghana Social Marketing Foundation to reduce Ghana's high rates of malaria-related illness and death, particularly among pregnant women and children under five. FHI's approach includes working with licensed sellers of over-the-counter drugs to improve symptom recognition, referral, and treatment for malaria. FHI also uses behavior change communication and social mobilization to increase malaria symptom recognition and overall health-seeking behaviors among pregnant women and the general community. Learn more �

Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)
The Medicines for Malaria Venture is working to develop affordable antimalarial medicines that are effective against drug resistant strains and safe in children and pregnant women. As an MMV partner, FHI is supporting Phase III clinical trials of new treatment options for the two most common malaria strains in Africa and Asia. FHI is responsible for site assessments, site development, regional medical monitoring, and clinical monitoring for the trials. FHI is also helping local investigators and facilities prepare to participate in clinical research studies, developing regional networks for future malaria research, and strengthening Asian laboratories to meet the testing requirements for both clinical research and routine patient services.

International Clinical Sciences Support Center
Since 2000, FHI has operated the National Institutes of Health's International Clinical Sciences Support Center (ICSSC). The ICSSC increases local capacity to conduct quality research on the treatment, prevention, and control of malaria and other tropical diseases. FHI provides researchers in resource-constrained countries with training and technical assistance on topics ranging from study design to publishing of findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Background: Malaria is one of the most significant health threats in the world, killing more than one million people each year. It is a major cause of illness and death in pregnant women and children, accounting for 75 percent of child mortality in Africa. HIV-positive pregnant women face an even greater risk of severe illness and death from malaria. Drug-resistant strains and insecticide-resistant mosquitoes make battling the disease more difficult. The burden on healthcare systems is immense, with malaria treatment often consuming as much as 40 percent of national healthcare budgets in developing countries. (Malaria Research, Prevention and Control, PDF, 44KB)

PHOTO (above): Using a peer-to-peer teaching model, FHI and its partners increase awareness and reduce the spread of malaria and HIV among cocoa farmers such as those pictured here. (National Confectioners Association)

FHI is a member of the West Africa Regional Network for Roll Back Malaria, whose principal objective is to rapidly scale up malaria interventions, particularly for vulnerable populations.