EUobserver: Time for E.U. to take charge of global health research agenda
Renate Baehr, executive director of the Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW); Hester Kuipers, executive director for Europe at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI); Claire Wingfield, senior policy officer at PATH

“…Malaria still kills 445,000 people around the world, not to mention the burden of HIV & AIDS, tuberculosis, and other emerging threats. All of these problems will require new tools and research to solve them. Today the E.U. is at a crossroads for the future of its global health research agenda. … The E.U. has a critical decision to make. It could continue with business as usual, adapting Europe’s ambitions to reflect a new and uncertain political reality. Or, European leaders could seize upon a once-in-a-decade opportunity in 2018, building on what it has achieved so far to forge ahead with a new, radical research agenda that leverages the E.U. budget to tackle global societal challenges…” (4/25).

EURACTIV: The clock is ticking on malaria
Charles Goerens, member of the European Parliament for Luxembourg, member the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), and vice-chair of Friends of the Global Fund Europe

“…Malaria both causes and results in poverty. … A resurgence of malaria would take a very grim and tragic toll on the world’s most vulnerable and poorest populations. Scientists have been ringing the alarm bells, and international and health leaders are responding. … If the E.U. is serious about being a true global health leader, it must step up its financial and scientific support in the fight against malaria. This a question of leadership. Are European leaders ready to beat malaria? They can be…” (4/25).

Project Syndicate: Staying on Track to End Malaria
Harald Nusser, head of Novartis Social Business

“Ending an epidemic is a marathon undertaking, and in the case of malaria, we are nearing the finish line. But we will need to keep up the momentum. … [W]e need to listen to those on the front lines and heed their calls for a renewed commitment to ending malaria. By investing in next-generation tools and building sustainable health care systems, we can consign this disease to the history books once and for all” (4/24).

Devex: Opinion: 3 steps to set in motion Africa’s malaria data revolution
James Kananura Tibenderana, medical doctor and epidemiologist

“…For all the progress made, if we are to actually transform the rhetoric of ‘ending malaria for good’ into reality, we must harness the unfulfilled potential of innovation and research to eliminate this age-old scourge. … If, collectively, we can achieve these three steps — embrace innovation as key to the fight against malaria, understand the transformative impact of R&D investment, and act to mobilize resources and support for disease research — we will be closer to fulfilling the campaign message for World Malaria Day: ending malaria for good. Let’s get on with it” (4/24).

New York Times: The deadliest animal in the world
Nicholas Kristof, columnist, and Jessica Ma, editor, both at the New York Times

“…We need a major global push to fight malaria, with rich nations and poor nations working together to ensure that we don’t tumble backward — and to try to save the lives of kids … before it’s too late” (4/25).

Wall Street Journal: How Long Till the Final World Malaria Day?
Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis

“…Based on my own experience working on malaria control and developing antimalarial treatments, I see three areas of focus: First, invest in research and development, particularly through nonprofit public-private partnerships like the Medicines for Malaria Venture or the Innovative Vector Control Consortium. … Second, expand access to affordable broadband internet in countries where malaria is endemic. … Third, optimize the use of tools available today. … Decisive action now can help wipe out this disease — and achieve one of history’s greatest health victories” (4/24).

Fox News: Jennifer Nettles: On World Malaria Day, no parent should watch their child die from a bug bite
Jennifer Nettles, singer/songwriter and member of Hope Through Healing Hands’ Faith Based Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Worldwide

“…The proposals for cuts to … the Global Fund [to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria], and how Congress responds, are deeply important. … We are a country dedicated to security, progress, and compassion. We lose these values among nations worldwide if we decide not to lead the world in funding and systematically enhancing programs to ‘end malaria for good’ as we have done for the last two administrations. Join me in calling your member of Congress today to encourage them to fully restore funding for the Global Fund … Because no parent should watch their child die from a bug bite” (4/25).

Devex: Opinion: Using innovation and technology to tackle malaria
Jamie Bay Nishi, director of the Global Health Technologies Coalition, and Renate Baehr, executive director of DSW

“…If we are to accelerate efforts to eliminate malaria by 2030, we need a smarter, data-driven way of fighting malaria … [I]f we want to set the revolution in motion, we need to take one, two, three steps to create momentum for the journey. Step 1: Invest in surveillance systems … Step 2: Improve the quality of data … Step 3: Strengthen the capacity of staff to collect, analyze, and utilize data … The data revolution is the missing piece of the puzzle in the fight against malaria in Africa. Finding it will unlock further progress on the continent and save thousands of lives” (4/25).

TIME: How to Wipe Out Malaria for Good
Erin M. Stuckey, epidemiologist and program officer with the malaria team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“…As long as malaria persists, other challenges in health and human development not only go unresolved, but are exacerbated — perpetuating a cycle of disease, poverty, and conflict. Here are three things the world needs to do in order to make malaria a memory. 1. Develop and apply new mapping technologies … 2. Bring together unusual funding partners to innovate … 3. Target interventions to the places most at risk of malaria…” (4/25).

The Conversation: Fake drugs are one reason malaria still kills so many
Jackson Thomas, assistant professor and senior lecturer at the University of Canberra, and colleagues

“…Our research on the pharmaceutical industry has revealed that one reason for malaria’s continued virulence in the developing world is ineffective medicine. In fact, in some poor African countries, many malaria drugs are actually expired, substandard, or fake. … Ineffective malaria treatments — whether fake, substandard, or degraded — are also expensive for consumers and national health care systems. … According to the World Health Organization, repeated medical treatments due to ineffective drugs is estimated to cost to sub-Saharan African patients and health care providers as a whole about $38.5 million annually…” (4/24).