Malaria, together with HIV/AIDS and TB, is one of the major public health challenges undermining development in the poorest countries in the world. Approximately 40% of the world’s population—mostly those living in the world’s poorest countries—are at risk of malaria. The disease is found in 109 countries and territories and causes more than 250 million acute illnesses and at least one million deaths annually. Eighty-six percent of deaths due to malaria occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria is the leading cause of death among children under five. Malaria kills an African child every 30 seconds and many others who survive a severe episode may suffer from learning impairments or brain damage. Pregnant women and their unborn children are also particularly vulnerable to the disease, which is a major cause of perinatal mortality, low birth weight and maternal anemia.

Malaria is a blood-borne infection caused by parasites and transmitted to people by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquitoes, which are active from dusk to dawn. Mild to moderate anemia is also common because the malaria parasite infects and destroys red blood cells. Untreated, malaria can result in severe anemia, lung and kidney failure, coma and death.

MCHIP and Malaria
MCHIP is a supporting partner in the Roll Back Malaria initiative and aims to reduce the global burden of malaria morbidity and mortality. The Program will be a key contributor to the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) goal of reducing malaria deaths by half in target countries by reaching 85% of the most vulnerable groups (children under five and pregnant women) with proven and effective malaria prevention and treatment measures, including:

• Promotion, distribution and use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs);
• Intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women through a platform of focused antenatal care services;
• Indoor residual spraying; and
• Prompt access to lifesaving anti-malarial drugs.

MCHIP will apply successful approaches and innovative practices to address malaria prevention and control comprehensively. The approach: is woman centered, recognizing that women are the primary care takers of children less than five; is integrated appropriately within maternal and child health as well as HIV programming; and strengthens health systems to achieve sustained scale up for malaria prevention and control.

The Program brings stellar leadership and technical experience to help countries address and scale up prevention and treatment of malaria based on our collective work¹,  and partners closely with the RBM initiative—including PMI teams at the country level and headquarters—and Ministries of Health to scale up proven malaria interventions for maximum impact.  In addition, MCHIP is building national and local capacity and strengthening health systems to accelerate scale-up for prevention and treatment programs addressing malaria in pregnancy (MIP) and in children under five. From the household to the community and facility as well as at the policy level, MCHIP will afford countries holistic support to address malaria across the continuum of care.