Malaria Consortium, a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to the prevention, control, and treatment of malaria and other communicable diseases, is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Over two decades, Malaria Consortium has played a pivotal role in reducing the burden of malaria in Uganda and more widely across Africa and Southeast Asia.
Malaria Consortium was founded by a small team of individuals committed to improving and saving lives. When they started this journey, they had a vision, a mission, but they could not have known the significance of the foundations that were being laid for the future. The organisation began as a collaboration between the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, a partnership developed to inform and shape UK Government policy. In 2003, when malaria deaths were approaching a peak of 1.8 million annually, Malaria Consortium became a non-governmental organisation, registered in the UK.
With this new status, the team transitioned from advisors to implementers driving forward the reduction of malaria by implementing high-quality research focusing on evidence-based delivery and the integration of case management for multiple diseases. It became clear that malaria was an obvious entry point and pathway to address other common causes of child morbidity and mortality; pneumonia, diarrhoea and malnutrition, as well as the effects of neglected tropical diseases. The lessons learnt through investment in and delivery of malaria interventions could have an even greater impact on the lives of those most at risk by adopting integrated approaches to improving child health.
Over the last two decades, Malaria Consortium has often paved the way where others said it wasn’t feasible. In Uganda, the organisation were among the first to show that home management of malaria with community health workers could deliver malaria diagnosis and treatment — a delivery mechanism that is now used widely to overcome a lack of access to healthcare. Similarly, the organisation’s pioneering delivery of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) – a highly effective preventative malaria treatment for children under five across the Sahel region – has enabled the organisation to take learnings from over 10 years of implementation to explore SMC’s feasibility and effectiveness in Karamoja’s two high-malaria prevalence districts to see how successes in the Sahel region could extend to Ugandan children. This, in addition to, the successful rollout of mass net distributions and health system strengthening under the Pioneer project as well as the Stop Malaria Project and large-scale social marketing activities for the AMFm pilot that have significantly contributed to the fight against malaria.
Malaria Consortium’s multi-faceted approach, combining innovative research, evidence-based interventions, and community engagement, has contributed to a substantial reduction in malaria prevalence in Uganda, from 42% in 2009 to 9.2% in 2019. This remarkable progress has been achieved through strategic partnerships and collaborations, emphasising the importance of working together to combat one of the world’s deadliest diseases.
“Twenty years of relentless dedication have shown us that the fight against malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea is not just a battle against a disease, but a journey towards stronger communities, empowered by knowledge and innovation. As we mark this milestone, Malaria Consortium renews its commitment to a future where every individual, regardless of where they live, can envision a life free from the shadow of malaria.” – (Dr. Godfrey Magumba, East & Southern Africa Programmes Director, Malaria Consortium)
As Malaria Consortium looks to the future, it reaffirms its commitment to advancing malaria control efforts through new technologies, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring sustainability in health solutions. The upcoming introduction of interventions like the malaria vaccine alongside ongoing strategies such as indoor residual spraying and mosquito net distribution continues to drive Malaria Consortium’s mission forward.
Malaria Consortium extends its gratitude to all partners, stakeholders, health workers, and communities who have contributed to its mission over the past 20 years. Working together to continue the journey towards a healthier, malaria-free world.
