Interview with Coordinator Ziemer on July 28, 2006
What was the purpose of your recent trip to Senegal?
Each President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) target country is required to develop a malaria operational plan (MOP) and my visit to Senegal coincided with the development of its plan to review the progress that had been made and to further assess the country’s capacity. I was pleased by the progress that had already been made in the planning and development of the PMI goals and objectives. I also wanted to see how the PMI was being integrated with the national malaria control plan.
What is the malaria situation like in Senegal?
Seeing the burden of the disease in hospitals and health centers was sobering. That said, it was encouraging to see the commitment of our partners: the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, universities, non-governmental organizations, the World Bank, and others. I saw effective programs that were up and running. The critical question before all of us was, “What must be done to achieve greater impact towards actualizing the PMI goals?”
Why has the PMI chosen Senegal in particular?
Senegal fulfilled the prerequisites of having a high burden of disease, a host government that was willing to work with the U.S. government, and a strong national malaria control program.
What is the PMI's objective in Senegal?
The goal of the PMI in every focus country is to assist the national malaria control program to reduce malaria-related deaths by 50 percent. This goal will be achieved by reaching 85 percent of the most vulnerable groups — children under five years of age and pregnant women — with proven and effective prevention and treatment control measures, which include indoor spraying of homes with insecticides, distribution of insecticide-treated bednets, lifesaving anti-malarial drugs, and intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women (IPTp).
What struck you most during your trip?
Every health facility I visited was able to produce 2004, 2005, and 2006 data representing which illnesses were treated at that particular location. Predictably, diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria were the most common. When I walked into one of the hospitals I counted 18 sick babies in the emergency room; the nurse near told me that most of them were being treated for malaria. The incidence rate of malaria in Senegal is staggering. I also observed, first hand, that all the participating partners were working together quite well. This included the private sector net market, the public’s awareness and knowledge of the disease, and the political will to change behavior. I left with a sense of hope and confidence that our efforts will make a difference.
Did you meet any of the beneficiaries of USAID-supported malaria programs? If yes, is there a particular beneficiary who remains fresh in your mind?
I did meet one of the beneficiaries at a hospital in Khombole, a mother of three children who had all suffered from malaria. Her name was Binata and she had come to the hospital to get her second dose of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for IPTp and also to pick up her voucher-subsidized insecticide-treated bednet. We talked for a few minutes about her children and her future plans to buy another insecticide-treated bednet after her baby was born. Talking to her and seeing the proactive approach that many Senegalese had taken about combating malaria in their communities was encouraging.
How did you get into development work?
You mean, how did I go from flying planes for the Navy to working on the PMI? Service remained the central responsibility of every job I have had. I have gone from serving my country to serving the poor and suffering; now I am proud to serve my country and the poor and suffering through the PMI. There is nothing more important than giving people hope and a means to better their lives.
Did this development bug get passed to anyone else in your family?
I have a daughter who is in school getting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Masters in Public Health. I fully expect her to be working in a humanitarian capacity during her career! Also, my sister is a nurse working in Cambodia.
What would you like the “take-home message” to be from this interview?
The PMI is a very ambitious initiative with clear objectives and targets. We can succeed in the fight against malaria and save lives by working together and staying focused.