topnaman | Malaria blog

Ray Chambers, a successful US businessman and philanthropist, was named the UN special envoy for malaria by Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Chambers has been charged with a monumental task – to raise $8-$10 billion dollars for malaria control over the next five years and bring malaria mortality as close to zero as possible.

Such grand, disease-specific goals often raise concerns regarding sustainability and the vertical versus horizontal program debate inevitably arises. It’s an argument I find somewhat artificial. Immediate gains have broader and longer impacts than we realize, and there is a limit (biological and logistical) to decentralizing control measures. Humanitarian aid and the sustainable reduction of transmission must be considered together.

Ultimately, these efforts should strengthen overall health infrastructure so broader gains in preventing child mortality are realized. Godspeed Mr. Chambers. Godspeed.