Ask the Coordinator - August 2007
E-Mail Your Questions about PMI or other malaria programs directly to Rear Adm. Tim Ziemer, U.S. Malaria Coordinator, at askthemalariacoordinator@usaid.gov.
Question:
Dear Rear Adm. Tim Ziemer,
I noticed that Uganda was one of the countries where the PMI program was initiated. How has the program been received in this area? My daughter will be a summer missionary in the Gulu area.
Thank you,
Karen - Memphis, TN
Answer:
Dear Karen,
Thank you for your e-mail. Your daughter should take precautions to protect her health and personal well-being while she is in Gulu. She should read as much as possible before she goes, and I encourage her to meet with your family physician to discuss potential health-risks and vaccines needed, especially because she will be in a malaria-endemic region. There are two prophylactics you may want to ask about: Mefloquine (Larium) and Malarone. Both are proven means to reduce the likelihood of contracting malaria in hyper-endemic areas. For further information, the State Department Web site has information on travel to Uganda, as does the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DHHS/CDC), in its recommendations for maintaining good health while in East Africa.
To answer your question about our activities in Uganda, PMI has completed several activities in Gulu, and these activities have been well-received. Significant malaria prevention and treatment efforts are underway in Uganda through the PMI, the Uganda National Malaria Program, and other partners. In fact, in Uganda, Tanzania and Angola, its first three focus countries, PMI has already distributed more than 1 million bed nets to protect pregnant women and caregivers of children under 5 years of age, conducted indoor residual spraying campaigns to shield over 2 million people, and distributed more than 1 million treatments of highly effective anti-malarial drugs – all within a short amount of time. The results are impressive, net coverage is rising in Uganda. Since 2006, household insecticide-treated net (ITN) ownership in Uganda is estimated to have risen from 14.5 percent to around 50 percent because of contributions by this initiative and other partners. Bed net distribution in Gulu is one of the activities that have been extremely successful. (View the PMI in Uganda photo gallery) As we move forward, we hope to maintain our level of success. Please also look at the PMI/Uganda country profile on our Web site. Also, if you have any further questions please contact me again.
Best wishes to your daughter,
Rear Admiral Timothy Ziemer
U.S. Malaria Coordinator
President’s Malaria Initiative
askthemalariacoordinator@usaid.gov