Our malaria programmes

Mother and child under malaria net Despite the prevalence of malaria it can be prevented by controlling the breeding of mosquitoes and using low cost measures such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). Malaria can also be treated effectively using inexpensive drugs.

At GSK we are committed to playing a significant role in improving the health of communities affected by malaria in three ways:

Through on-going research into new malaria medicines, treatments and vaccines
With preferential pricing of our anti-malarials in the least developed countries and sub-Saharan Africa
Through our community investment activities funded by the GSK African Malaria Partnership

GSK’s African Malaria Partnership (AMP)

The African Malaria Partnership (AMP) was established in 2001 to improve the prevention and treatment of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Since then we have committed over £3 million on initiatives to combat the disease. Initial activities focused on behavioural change programmes across eight African countries. Such social change is essential to encourage people to sleep under treated bed nets and seek treatment for children with a fever.

In the second phase of the AMP, we supported ‘Mobilising for Malaria’ an advocacy initiative aimed at generating greater awareness, political commitment and sustained funding to combat the disease. National Coalitions Against Malaria have now been launched in the UK, Belgium, France, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Mozambique.

In late 2009, the AMP entered its third phase with a total commitment of £1.5 million over three years with partnerships in four African countries. With a focus on working with building capacity of community health workers and creating behaviour change, the four projects include:

Man and bike This three year community based malaria project will enable AMREF to work in the under-served area of Tandahimba, Mtwara province.

In an area particularly vulnerable due to high levels of endemic malaria and a high level of poverty, this project will include training for 172 community health workers and will mobilise communities to become the frontline in the fight against malaria through communications, cultural groups, drama, information materials and village health days.

It will reduce morbidity and mortality by improving community level prevention of malaria and increasing access to health services. The project will target the most vulnerable: women, children under five, people living with HIV/AIDS and young people.

Malaria education This project aims to increase community health workers’ and other household caregivers’ capacity to reduce malaria related morbidity and mortality in Pru and Sene districts in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.

In this region with a high malaria burden, the project’s two-fold objectives are to: improve early recognition of malaria illness and provision of appropriate treatment within 24-48 hours of symptom onset at the community level; and improve knowledge, awareness and preventive and health seeking behaviours at community level and increase community mobilisation.

The team will engage a wide spectrum of stakeholders and community influencers including traditional authorities to facilitate community ownership. Project activities will be focused primarily on pregnant women and mothers of children under five, caregivers, and community health workers.

Doctor and child This initiative promotes a community response to tackle malaria in six communities (population 1.4 million) through partnership with community committees, government agencies, vendors, community health extension workers, and peer educators in schools.

By the end of the three year project, the objectives are to reduce the prevalence of malaria reported cases by 20%; and increase use of ITNs by 60%, and increase artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) by 20% in the six targeted communities.

Mother and child with malaria net This project aims to reduce the risk of malaria outbreaks in communities affected by flooding in Wajir and Mandera districts in the North East province of Kenya. Save the Children will integrate malaria activities with ongoing emergency health and nutrition response work.

Community health workers will distribute long lasting ITNs and provide and promote the importance of indoor residual spraying to control malaria outbreaks in the homes.

Through community campaigns, education, bed net distribution and training of community health workers, the project aims to ensure that greater than 85% of the targeted communities in Wajir and Mandera districts receive effective coverage, and that these communities have prompt and effective diagnosis and treatment services.