PATH observes World Malaria Day 2015

In recognition of World Malaria Day, PATH is participating in more events, in more locations around the world, than ever before. In the United States, PATH will participate in activities in Seattle; San Francisco; and Washington, DC. PATH also has a presence planned for events in Brussels, Belgium, and two locations in Zambia. The focus of these events is to showcase strong partnerships and innovative approaches in malaria elimination, treatment, and control.

Malaria sickens more than 200 million people each year and claims the lives of more than 620,000, most of which are children. To combat this deadly disease, PATH has helped to secure the supply of the current best malaria treatment, developed new diagnostic approaches, and tracked the pattern of malaria cases in endemic regions. We have also made great strides in the development of the world's first malaria vaccine, RTS,S. This work is paying off; since the year 2000, malaria death rates among young children have been reduced by 50 percent with more than 3.3 million lives saved.

On Friday, April 24, PATH will cohost the 4th Annual Bay Area World Malaria Day Symposium at the University of California, Berkeley's Clark Kerr Campus. The event, organized by Zagaya; PATH; and the University of California, Davis, features Ashley Birkett, director of PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), as a keynote speaker, and PATH research scientist Gonzalo Domingo as a main speaker for the Technical Innovation Session. Registration for this symposium is USD$50 ($25 for students) and tickets can be purchased here.

PATH will host an informal networking reception immediately following the symposium. The reception is open to the public and provides the opportunity to learn more about PATH's work in malaria and to network with the area's top malaria researchers, implementers, and policy makers. The event is free, but registration is required.

In May, PATH will participate in a luncheon hosted by World Vision and Seattle 4 Rotary. The theme of this event is "Finishing strong with polio eradication, transitioning Rotary focus toward malaria elimination." Keynote speakers have not been identified at this time, but we will update this announcement with these and other details as they become available.

PATH will participate in a congressional reception on Tuesday, April 21 in the Cannon House Office Building hosted by Malaria Roundtable and Lutheran World Relief. PATH is an event cosponsor along with Nothing But Nets, Imagine No Malaria, Malaria No More, Catholic Relief Services, and the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Honored guests at this reception include U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator Admiral Tim Ziemer and co-chairs of House Caucus on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, US Representatives Ander Crenshaw and Gregory Meeks. Registration is required for this event. Please email worldmalariaday2015@lwr.org to reserve your place.

On Monday, April 20 at an event hosted by the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Secretariat in Brussels, Ashley Birkett will participate in a panel discussion on the issue of drug resistant malaria and the European Union's role in malaria elimination. In addition to this panel discussion, guests have the opportunity to view Malaria: Blood, Sweat, and Tears, an award-winning photographic exhibition by Adam Nadel. A buffet lunch will also be provided. PATH joins the Malaria Consortium and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership in convening this event. Registration is required.

PATH's Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA) is coordinating multiple World Malaria Day events in Livingstone and Southern Province. Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 will see a series of roundtable meetings, presentations, press briefings, public celebrations, and advocacy events in both regions. Guests to these events include notable dignitaries such as Alan Magill, director of the Malaria Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO's Global Malaria Programme; as well as MACEPA staff Kent Campbell, senior advisor; Rick Steketee, project advisor; and Kammerle Schneider, senior policy officer.

- Our work in malaria.
- Our Drug Development program.
- PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative website.
- Making Malaria History website.
- MalariaCare website.

Posted April 20, 2015.