RTI International - News Release - 10.26.2009

RTI International Hosts Pan African Malaria Vector Control Conference in Zanzibar

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania—About 150 of the leading malaria control scientists and national malaria program managers from more than 18 African countries are gathering in Zanzibar this week to share their collective knowledge and experience at a conference hosted by RTI International.

Conference attendees will discuss the latest science on vector control and best practices for using effective malaria control interventions, including indoor residual spraying, to reduce malaria's impact on morbidity and mortality.

Best practices and lessons learned will be published in conference proceedings and then distributed widely among organizations engaged in malaria control efforts.

"During the past several years, the world has witnessed tremendous progress in the fight against malaria, as governments, foundations and others have begun to fund and implement a cohesive malaria control strategy," said RTI President and CEO Victoria Haynes, Ph.D. "These efforts have provided the financial and technical resources vital to reducing malaria-related illness and death."

RTI is the lead implementing partner for the U.S. Agency for International Development's Indoor Residual Spraying program, one element of the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative. This program and many others will be discussed during the conference.

Since 2005, this USAID-sponsored effort has treated 21 million homes in 16 nations, protecting more than 128 million people from malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Other organizations attending the conference have equally impressive program successes to share.

Despite recent success, Haynes said continued investment and innovation are required to sustain this initiative and to develop new interventions needed to keep pace with threats such as the one posed by drug- and insecticide-resistant strains of malaria.

"Through our cooperation and collaboration at events such as this conference, I am confident we can continue to make progress in this noble effort," she said.