Malaria Diagnosis in the Community: Challenges and Potential Role of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) in the African Region

At present; malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely available and used in parts of Asia and Latin America. In Africa; their use has been limited mainly to private health facilities. With the adoption of artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) by most African countries as first line treatment for malaria; an effective; but expensive treatment is available; and the case for an expanded role for rapid diagnostics in the fight against malaria is clear. Despite this perceived potential role for RDTs; some challenges hinder their introduction and scale-up in the public health sector. Among the requirements are significant investments in policy development; training; infrastructure; and supply chain and quality assurance systems

Roll Back Malaria and the New Partnership for Africa's Development: Is there Potential for Synergistic Collaboration in Partnerships?

This synopsis seeks to highlight and promote the enormous potential that exists between these two initiatives that seek to address closely related issues and targeting the same populations at risk within a fairly well defined geographical setting. It also attempts to argue that malaria control; just like HIV-Aids control be given high priority in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) health agenda; as current statistics indicate that malaria is again on the rise. While much attention and billions of dollars have rightly been given to HIV-Aids research; treatment and prevention; malaria; and not Aids; is the region's leading cause of morbidity and mortality for children under the age of five years. This is the bad news. The good news is that unlike Aids; malaria treatment and prevention are relatively cheap. In addition; there is a payback to fighting malaria; support aimed directly at improving health; rather than poverty reduction; may be a more effective way of helping Africa to thrive. Robust and sustained growth may come to Africa through a mosquito net; Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) or a malaria vaccine; rather that a donor's cheque for economic development initiatives