On World Malaria Day, PAHO/WHO calls for nominations of innovative efforts to fight malaria in the Americas. This year's contest will focus on initiatives that have been successfully integrated into programs to control vector-borne diseases.
Washington, DC, 25 April 2014 (PAHO) - Malaria initiatives that are integrated into programs for the control of vector-borne diseases are eligible to compete in this year's "Malaria Champions of the Americas" contest, which gets under way today, on World Malaria Day, April 25. Nominations may be submitted until June 23.
Currently in their sixth year, the annual Malaria Champions of the Americas awards honor innovative efforts that have successfully engaged in integrated vector management or vector-borne disease programs that demonstrate success in malaria prevention, control, elimination, or prevention of reintroduction, and that have significantly contributed to overcoming the challenges of malaria in communities, countries, or the Americas.
The awards are sponsored by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF), and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (MISPH). The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (JHU-CCP) also joins this year's search as partner and co-sponsor.
In the Americas, deaths from malaria declined 72% between 2000 and 2012, while the number of cases declined by 60%. Eighteen of the 21 malaria-endemic countries in the region are on track to achieve a 75% reduction in their case incidence rates by 2015.
The theme of World Malaria Day 2014 is "Invest in the Future. Defeat Malaria." The campaign seeks to raise awareness of how increased measures for prevention and control have led to dramatic reductions in the burden of malaria in many places throughout the world.
Building on the World Health Day 2014 campaign, which focused on vector-borne diseases, this year's Malaria Champions of the Americas contest will recognize initiatives that integrate malaria interventions with other efforts against vector-borne diseases and that demonstrate successful achievement of targets in both. Nominations will be evaluated based on demonstrated achievements in capacity building, innovation, collaboration and impact.
Winners of the 2014 Malaria Champion of the Americas award will receive:
- The opportunity to participate in three PAHO capacity-building trainings for malaria prevention, control and elimination
- A US$2,500 cash award for malaria-related capacity-building efforts (e.g., staff training/education, research, project proposal development or other activities that enhance skills and abilities to achieve goals and targets)
- A commemorative plaque
- The opportunity to be featured in various communication platforms of PAHO/WHO, PAHEF, GWU-MISPH and JHU-CCP as a "best practice" on malaria.
Nominations for the 2014 Malaria Champions of the Americas will be accepted from 25 April to 23 June 2014. Top winners will be recognized during the commemoration of Malaria Day in the Americas in November 2014.
Previous awardees have included:
- The Fundación Universidad de Antioquia (FUA) - Fondo Financiero de Proyectos de Desarrollo (FONADE) of Colombia, recognized in 2013 for successful efforts in increasing access to early diagnosis and treatment, as well as for developing malaria information systems and implementing plans for communication and social mobilization, which effectively reached indigenous populations, mestizos and Afro-descendant communities
- The National Malaria Program of Paraguay, recognized in 2012 for outstanding achievements in reducing the burden of malaria towards elimination of local transmission and establishing a systematic model of testing, treating and tracking malaria cases through innovative involvement of community volunteers, among other activities.
- The Municipality of Wampusirpi in the Department of Gracias a Dios, Honduras, honored in 2011 for outstanding achievements in reducing the burden of malaria and establishing an effective model to combat malaria in a challenging socio-economic environment, particularly in indigenous communities.
Past awardees also include the National Malaria Board of Suriname (2010), the National Service for Control of Arthropod-Transmitted Diseases in Ecuador's Ministry of Health and the Project for Malaria Control in Andean Border Areas of the Andean Health Organization (2009). Other honorees have included initiatives from Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Nicaragua.
PAHO, founded in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).
PAHEF is a US nonprofit organization located in Washington, DC. Founded in 1968, the Foundation is dedicated to building public health expertise in the Americas to innovatively lead development of healthier generations by partnering with PAHO, the private sector, and major public health research, policy and development groups.
The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health carries out innovative research and scholarly service activities to meet the evolving challenges of the 21st century global health and development environment. Working with a diverse group of partners, the Center aims to strengthen the link between science and policy and to improve responses to critical health issues around the world.
JHU-CCP is a global leader in the field of strategic health communication and knowledge management with active programs in more than 30 countries worldwide as well as the United States. JHU?CCP partners with organizations worldwide to advance knowledge in the field of health communication. It is part of the School's Department of Health, Behavior and Society.
