DFAT working to end malaria by 2030

Today at the Malaria Summit High-Level Panel Discussion at CHOGM in London, Julie Bishop, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, announced three new initiatives as part of our goal to eliminate malaria in the Indo-Pacific by 2030.

In July 2018, Melbourne will host the first Malaria World Congress (MWC) to boost cooperation, innovation, and action for malaria elimination. Australia will also support the Australia Awards Health Security Fellowships for health security professionals from the Greater Mekong Subregion – the epicenter for antimalarial drug resistance. The Australian Government is providing $700,000 for these important new initiatives.

In addition, through Australia’s landmark Health Security Initiative, four Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) have each been awarded $18.75 million over the period 2018 to 2022. With these funds:

• the Medicines for Malaria Venture will develop and facilitate the uptake of new antimalarial drugs;
• the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics will accelerate the development and adoption of better diagnostic tools and testing protocols for TB and malaria;
• the Innovative Vector Control Consortium will develop and disseminate vector control technologies for malaria and other deadly mosquito-borne diseases; and
• the TB Alliance will research new TB drugs and treatment regimens, including for drug-resistant TB.

Commonwealth countries bear 90 percent of the world’s malaria burden. Malaria and TB are increasingly difficult to treat due to the emergence of drug resistance, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

This announcement increases Australia’s annual funding for PDPs from $10 million to $15 million and provides funding certainty for up to five years.

Original source: DFAT
Published on 19 April 2018