Novartis Supports Pan-African Meeting to Move Faster to Malaria Elimination
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Wednesday, June 10, 2015
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MAPUTO, Mozambique, June 10, 2015/ -- Novartis (NVS) (http://www.novartis.com)
kicks off the 14th annual National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) Best
Practice Sharing Workshop today. Africa is at a crossroad in the fight
against malaria and this meeting will provide the opportunity for
malaria experts from over 35 countries in Africa to discuss the need for
new innovative tools and strategies to achieve malaria elimination.
•
Malaria experts and leaders from over 35 African countries gather to
explore innovative strategies to move from malaria control to
elimination
•
Meeting convened by Novartis fosters best practice sharing and helps
catalyze action to achieve new WHO objective of 90% reduction in malaria
burden by 2030
•
Growing threats including inadequate funding, first signs of drug
resistance, and the advance of diseases such as Ebola, could derail
efforts unless addressed
“This
discussion could not have come at a better time since we in the
Southern African Development Community region are already advanced in
the elimination program having earmarked eight countries in this region
as pilots for the elimination campaign,” said Hon. Dr. Nazira Abdula,
Minister for Health, Mozambique.
The
three-day workshop, convened by Novartis, with support from
international organizations including the World Health Organization
(WHO), The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the
Malaria Consortium, will focus on the new WHO “Global Technical Strategy
and Targets for Malaria 2016 - 2030”, which aims to accelerate progress
in the fight against malaria. The NMCP heads will discuss the advances
in technology made to date and how these tools can be implemented and
improved to achieve the new WHO objective of 90% reduction in malaria
cases and mortality rates by 2030.(1)
“Novartis
is proud to provide this unique platform,” said Dr. Linus Igwemezie,
Head of the Novartis Malaria Initiative. “These meetings have been
designed for NMCP members by NCMP members, to develop new ideas and
strategies to achieve elimination of this deadly disease.”
The
NMCP meeting comes as the world has reached a critical juncture in the
fight against malaria: Malaria mortality rates have fallen by 47%
globally since 20001 and this has helped the malaria community gain
growing momentum to realize that elimination is possible. Yet, new
threats such as inadequate funding, the first signs of drug resistance,
and the advance of diseases such as Ebola, could derail efforts unless
addressed.
Dr.
Simon Kunene, NMCP Head Swaziland, said “These NMCP meetings are
important platforms to share best practice across the continent and
drive progress. Kenya for example has made significant improvements in
the quality of malaria case management since the implementation of the
new policy that requires diagnostic testing prior to treatment.
The same
applies to the entire Southern African Development Community which has
tremendously improved case management after harmonizing treatment
protocols in the region. In my own country Swaziland, we have made great
progress towards malaria elimination through improved disease
surveillance, a critical area since it helps program managers focus
their resources.”
Since
the first workshop in 2006, this unique event has provided a platform
to share experiences and best practice in the management of malaria.
Groundbreaking projects have emerged as a result of these meetings, such
as the SMS for Life program to support more efficient stock management
in rural health facilities, and the development of Coartem® Dispersible,
the first ACT specifically tailored to infants and children (weighing 5
kg or more), which was developed in collaboration with Medicines for
Malaria Venture (MMV).
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Novartis International AG.
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