Imagine NO Malaria: Vaccine Shows Promise

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Bickerton Says Prevention Efforts Must Continue

Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton was among 300 global health leaders, leading  malaria scientists, policymakers, government officials and advocates gathered on Oct. 18 at the Malaria Forum to discuss great strides in malaria control and address challenges that are impacting the long-term goal of eradication.

Significant progress was reported in development of a vaccine for malaria. Interim results from phase III trials of the RTS,S vaccine were announced at the forum.  Among five- to 17-month-old children, the vaccine prevented clinical malaria in 56 percent of trial participants over a period of one year. It prevented severe malaria in 47 percent.

Bill Gates , co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, called the discovery a “huge milestone” in the fight against malaria, as RTS,S is the first vaccine against a parasitic disease.

“First, this is proof that it is possible to create a vaccine that is effective against malaria,” he explained. Second, if further results show that the effectiveness of RTS,S does not wane over time it has the potential to protect millions of children and save thousands of lives.”

Work is already underway to develop the next generation of vaccines that will provide greater and longer lasting protection and will be even more effective in stopping malaria transmission.

“We have seen tremendous success in the control of malaria, thanks to an infusion of resources, innovation, and political will,” said Melinda Gates. “Worldwide, malaria deaths are down 20 percent since 2000.”

More than one million African children have been saved from malaria since 2000. New tools such as long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets and artemisinin-based combination treatments (ACTs)—along with prevention during pregnancy and indoor residual spraying—have made this recent progress possible.

The progress is the result of partnerships and financial and political commitments from affected countries, donor governments, non-governmental organizations, private companies, foundations, and individuals. The United Methodist Church has been part of the effort, providing a distribution system through churches, acting as a founding partner in the Nothing but Nets campaign, and raising funds through Imagine No Malaria.

United Methodist Efforts Noted

Emphasizing the importance of strong leaders in the anti-malaria effort, Mrs. Gates used Bishop Bickerton as an example.

“When ordinary responses aren’t good enough, leaders inspire us to do the extraordinary," she said.  "Methodist Bishop Thomas Bickerton believes the meaning of the scripture is the service rendered by millions of Methodists, so his church created the Imagine No Malaria campaign. He took something that was none of his business and made it his business. Now Methodists from all over the United States have made it their business too by donating to the cause.”

She urged all the participants to maintain momentum or recent gains could be lost. “What matters is our staying power,” Mrs. Gates added. “We need to keep on seizing the opportunity to make new progress against malaria every single day.”

Bishop Bickerton, commenting after the gathering, echoed those remarks.

“The promise of a vaccine is the key point of this summit,” he said, “But but the need to keep the nets flowing until it is perfected is the key to beating this thing!

“It all points to why we can't back off of this work Until the job is done.  A real breakthrough is in sight!”

Innovation Paves Way to Eradication

Bill Gates challenged the malaria community to be smarter, faster, and more ambitious. “If we think big, bring more partners into the fold, and take smart risks, we will invent entirely new tools—powerful ways of fighting malaria that don’t exist now,” explained Mr. Gates. “This is the kind of innovation that will enable us to plan for the eventual eradication of malaria.”

When Mr. and Mrs. Gates first called on the global community to chart a course for the long-term eradication of malaria at the Malaria Forum four years ago, the world took notice. This year, Mr. Gates reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to eradication, urging public and private partners to increase their investments.

“Eradication is an ambitious goal—and a long-term goal. It is also a goal to which we remain 100 percent committed,” added Mr. Gates. “It will take leadership, innovation, and money to plan for malaria’s eventual eradication.”

Call to Intensify Efforts

While the second Malaria Forum illuminated the recent progress the world has made in halting malaria, there was an underlying sense of urgency to be smarter and faster, and to save more lives.

The reality in much of Africa remains grim. A child dies of malaria every 45 seconds in sub-Saharan Africa. According to reports from 2009, the latest available, children under five accounted for 85 percent of the nearly 800,000 malaria deaths. Malaria also bears a heavy burden on Africa’s global economies, costing the continent an estimated $12 billion annually in lost productivity.

“The parasite has been killing children and sapping the strength of whole populations for tens of thousands of years,” added Mr. Gates. “Now, we can chart a course to end it.”