Q&A: Scaling up preventive malaria treatment in pregnancy by enhancing African manufacturing capacity
Malaria infection during pregnancy (MiP) is a major public health problem that takes thousands of lives each year, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Each year, MiP is responsible for 20% of stillbirths and 11% of all newborn deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, and 10,000 maternal deaths globally.1
These deaths can be prevented with a simple and cost-effective intervention known as intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), but barriers impede IPTp-SP uptake in many countries across sub-Saharan Africa.
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) is working with partners to address supply-side barriers by enhancing the capacity of African manufacturers to improve the availability and administration of quality-assured SP.
1. World Health Organization. Implementing Malaria in Pregnancy Programs in the Context of World Health Organization Recommendations on Antenatal Care for a Positive Pregnancy Experience. 2018