Reliable Data, Robust Health Systems Vital To Preventing Outbreaks, Stopping Malaria

Devex: Lessons from Ebola can help with malaria fight
Suzanne McCarron, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation and general manager of public and government affairs for Exxon Mobil Corp.

“…Critical lessons from the Ebola outbreak identified by the World Health Organization — including the urgency of responding at the first signs of trouble and the importance of strong data and health infrastructure — can be applied to defeat malaria. … In business, good information helps make informed decisions; the same holds true in the fight against any disease. … Geographic surveillance helps identify problem areas; widespread use of rapid diagnostic tests and real-time reporting of malaria cases allow health teams to identify patients and quickly respond with treatment. An important lesson we can apply from Ebola to the fight against malaria is that strong health systems are essential. … Malaria robs people of their potential, and in doing so, hurts families, businesses, and nations. Yet we are not powerless against the disease. Coordination and shared responsibility are critical to successfully eliminating disease. We can all play a role…” (5/4).

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