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Bart Knols

Managing Director, In2Care BV

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Join now: What is really needed to have a world without malaria? Live Conversation with Bart Knols

More than 800 million people currently live in parts of the world where they used to run the risk of contracting malaria. Its disappearance in more than 70 countries shows us one thing: it can be done...

The question then arises why we fail to repeat these successes in major parts of the tropics, notably sub-Saharan Africa. Although we have seen a decline in deaths starting in 2005, we're still looking at anywhere between 0.7 - 1.2 million deaths per year.

In this debate, we have the opportunity to discuss the 'why' of this problem, but also the 'how' and 'what' regarding possible solutions. I would encourage you to come forward with innovative and creative ideas that may provide new insight.

Thank you for participating.

Topics: Africa Developing Countries Live Conversation Malaria innovation mosquitoes public health
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  • Kate Leuschen

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    Jun 12 2012: I see a lot of stories in the malaria news about supporting refugee camps with bed nets and malaria drugs. Conflict and migration are big issues when trying to combat malaria. Besides targetting camps, are there other ways to target the at risk populations? It seems so hopeless!
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      Bart Knols

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      Jun 12 2012: In a refugee situation, all you can do is use nets and take care of patients. This is indeed a major problem as population displacement also means that people get exposed to new genotypes of the parasite in the areas they migrate to, against they have not built up any immunity. Malaria therefore strikes such refugees extra hard.

      As for targeting populations in peaceful settings, I believe that we should carefully look at areas that have seasonal transmission (sahel zone, horn of Africa) and double wham malaria with mosquito control and use of drugs that kill transmissible stages of the parasite. All evidence is there that this can work...but nobody os doing this right now...

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