Experts speak out at MIM

“This is no usual gathering of ivory tower academics; it is the malaria community's largest meeting in four years - the 6th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Conference.” Yvonne Chaka Chaka, South African singer, dubbed the "Princess of Africa”.

"Today is a day to celebrate the efforts that South Africa has made in fighting malaria and to redouble the efforts", Dr Rob Newman, Director, Global Malaria Programme, World Health Organization.

“Progress has been made but more needs to be done. It’s not right that in this day and age so many kids die of the blood-sucking bite of the anopheles.” Kingsley Holgate, African explorer and malaria activist as he sets off from MIM on an adventure across East Africa delivering bed nets.

"The future of Africa is bigger and brighter without malaria… Only Africans will eliminate malaria," Dr Alan Magill, Director, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

A promising next-generation antimalarial molecule is expected to move to Phase I human trials in 2014. "We had to kiss many frogs to find our molecule," said Prof. Kelly Chibale, Principal Investigator, University of Cape Town.

Dr Philippe Guérin, Director, Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), (first on the left) explains that while artemisinin resistance hasn't yet been found in Africa it's key that we develop new drugs and do all we can to protect the efficacy of artemisinins, at WWARN’s Symposium.

"Two things that are working really well against malaria are strong and safe drugs, and insecticides. The real concern is losing these tools to resistance" Prof. Nick White, Professor of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University.

Dr Issaka Sagara, Physician, Malaria Research & Training Center, Mali, presents the interim findings of the repeat dose study of Pyramax® (pyronaridine-artesunate) at MMV’s Symposium. He explains the data so far offer confidence in the use of the medicine more than once for the treatment of malaria.

Prof. Christian Burri, Head of Department of Medicines Research, Swiss TPH, reports on an observational implementation study of quinine versus injectable artesunate in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He explains the findings are consistent with previous studies and that while delayed haemolysis was observed in some patients treated with injectable artesunate, it nonetheless, remains the superior treatment option as more lives were saved with its use.

Dr Estrella Lasry, Tropical Medicine Adviser, Médecins Sans Frontières (third from right) explains Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention is an efficacious strategy to reduce malaria cases but new drug combinations will be needed for the future, at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s Symposium.

"We return to our home countries to put all that we have heard at MIM into action. We will win this fight against malaria" Prof. Rose Leke, University of Yaounde, Cameroon and Chair of the MIM Secretariat.

Goodbye malaria!! And goodbye to MIM for another 4 years. It has been an incredible, information-rich and action-packed conference! Well done to everyone involved. Let’s Defeat Malaria Together!