There are at least six million episodes of malaria per year in Malawi.

Malaria is endemic in 95 percent of the country, with 98 percent of cases caused by the most severe form of the parasite. As a result, malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five in Malawi, and the Ministry of Health (MoH) estimates that malaria accounts for 34 percent of all outpatient visits and 40 percent of all hospital admissions among children under five. Overall, one out of every four hospital deaths is attributed to malaria.

IMPACT

The U.S. Government’s President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) has invested approximately $200 million between 2006 and 2015 to malaria prevention and control interventions in Malawi. Nearly half of PMI’s funding in Malawi supports the supply of commodities to prevent and treat malaria so the overall number of cases can be decreased. To further its malaria prevention and control strategy, PMI partners with the MoH to ensure that the most recent evidence is translated into policy and program implementation throughout the country.

IN FY15, PMI:

• Distributed over 1.2 million long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets for pregnant women and children and supported the mass distribution campaign of over 1 million additional nets in six districts.

• Procured and distributed over 6.2 million artemisinin-based combination therapy doses.

• Distributed 4.5 million doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, which prevents malaria during pregnancy.

• Procured and distributed 8.5 million rapid diagnostic test kits to properly diagnose malaria.

• Trained health workers to improve malaria case management in communities and facilities.

• Provided preventive services to pregnant women through antenatal care.

• Mentored and provided supportive supervision to health care workers.

• Conducted entomological monitoring in seven districts.

• Supported behavior change communication activities to improve care-seeking behaviors for malaria prevention and treatment.