In 1999, MMV and its public and private partners set out to discover, develop and deliver medicines to treat and prevent malaria in endemic countries. Together we have brought forward 12 new medicines which have saved the lives of 1.9 million people. Here are their stories.
As a volunteer for a Zambian project led by Transaid, MMV and a consortium of partners, Josephine knows when and how to administer rectal artesunate, an intervention to buy precious time to get patients to a hospital where they can receive recommended treatment. And she ensures they receive it by riding a bicycle ambulance to get them there. Read Josephine's full story.
Angela is a primary school teacher in Zambia and is 6 months pregnant. For Angela, the need to protect herself from malaria is an even greater priority during pregnancy. Women like Angela benefit from intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp), an intervention that reduces the chances of malaria and stillbirth. Read Angela's full story.
"Inness had fever, with severe vomiting and diarrhoea," said Inness' mother, Silvia. "She even refused to breast feed or eat." The next day Silvia took her to the local community health volunteer, who suspected severe malaria and immediately administered rectal artesunate, an MMV-supported medicine. A rapid diagnostic test confirmed malaria. Read Inness's full story.
It was the fourth time 4-year old Desmond from Apac, northern Uganda, had suffered from malaria and this time it was the severe form. Fortunately, Apac District Hospital now receives injectable artesunate via an MMV-led project. Desmond received his first dose of treatment soon after being admitted and walked home 3 days later. Read Desmond's full story.
Pring, a farmer from Oslev Village, Cambodia has suffered with malaria more than 12 times in his life. On one occasion it was so severe he had to be hospitalized, which made life very difficult for his family. "When I'm infected I can't work and my wife can't work," he explained. Read Pring's full story.
The first time Rose's 2-year old daughter Shanrol had malaria she was only 8 months old. The fourth time, Rose took Shanrol to the hospital in Ombeyi, Kenya. There, she received Coartem® Dispersible (artemether-lumefantrine), a sweet-tasting paediatric tablet that is highly effective and easy to give to children, thus helping to improve compliance and dosing accuracy. Read Rose and Shanrol's full story.