Onesmo on eradicating malaria

Onesmo ole MoiYoi talks about eradicating malaria and believes that it can be done. In fact he says it's already been greatly controlled in the highlands of Kenya, where we haven't had an epidemic since 2003.

'The burden of disease in sub-Saharan African countries contributes greatly to the continent's underdevelopment. Diseases conspire with malnutrition to weaken Africa's populations.'

'A child dies every 30 seconds of malaria in Africa. In hyper-malaria areas, 25% of household income is pent on treating malaria.

'We need to keep mosquitoes from flying. To do that we need to involve the communities fighting malaria in our research and control programs.

'We are failing because of linear thinking. Linear thinking is characteristic of the pharmaceutical industry and malaria researchers.

'We are always going after "a" solution. What we need is a holistic strategy.'

Four things you need to control malaria: 1. destroy breeding sites. 2. nets 3. get affordable drugs into the hands of people who need them. .4. community driven actions;

The Roll Back Malaria campaign which began in 2000 had all the information needed in its Abuja Declaration. It didn't suceed because at the country level that knowledge wasn't translated into actions.'

He concludes: 'I am convinced that we can control malaria with the tools we have, without waiting for a new vaccine or drugs.

'So why are we failing after 25 years? I think it's because we don't have a holistic strategy!'