NEWS: Malaria Consortium reaction statement to DFID announcement

3 July 2009

Malaria Consortium compliments the UK Government for its support in the drive for malaria elimination.

We welcome, in particular, DFID's commitment to provide 30 million long lasting insecticide treated nets between 2010 and 2013 and the commitment of £19 million to further drug development through the Medicines for Malaria Venture. DFID’s commitment to encouraging political leadership and raising public awareness is also very welcome and it is in this regard that Malaria Consortium’s report, entitled Malaria and the G8 – Leading or Lagging and published on 2 July, will be of interest to the UK Government.

To read the DFID press release entitled "New UK Drive to End Malaria Deaths" click here

Malaria Consortium found that the UK Government consistently leads its G8 peers in terms of commitment to malaria research and bilateral contributions to malaria control programmes. The report, endorsed by the United Nations Special Envoy on malaria, exposes weaknesses in certain G8 country commitment to addressing malaria and we would like the Secretary of State for International Development to bring the following points to the attention of Prime Minister Brown in advance of the summit in Aquila next week for his use with counterparts.

1. The financing need for malaria is US$ 11.5 billion from 2009 until the end of 2010 according to the Global Malaria Action Plan. The G8 must do more to target resources in order to meet this gap.
2. Following DFID’s example, other G8 countries should make their information regarding malaria more transparent both in tracking methods for their own bilateral contributions as well as those given through multilateral channels. As malaria is a named element of MDG 6, donors should have malaria-specific reporting categories and appropriate measurement indicators. 
3. To reach elimination and finally eradication, new tools for malaria control, diagnosis and treatment are required. But research into more effective use and delivery of existing tools, especially diagnostics, is also urgently required. G8 countries that are not prioritizing research, as the UK is, should be encouraged to increase funding to, and undertake better reporting of, research. A new tracking method for investment in research towards malaria control is vital.
4. There is a clear role for civil society to play in determining where and how monies are effectively spent. More open dialogue on tracking, financing, needs assessment and delivery is required.

We would like to add, finally, that Malaria Consortium remains dedicated to working with DFID in any way it can in the effort to tackle malaria.  We look forward to continued positive dialogue and action both in the UK and in endemic countries.

Sunil Mehra
Executive Director
Malaria Consortium International