African Research Brings Hopes Of Eliminating Malaria - 10 October 2011

DAR ES SALAAM - A range of anti-malaria interventions being developed and tested in Africa have significantly reduced the risk of illness and death and promise to bring more benefits in the future. With findings from the big RTSS malaria vaccine trial soon to be released, scientists at the Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine are predicting that vaccination could halve malaria infection rates among children receiving the vaccine, and that by using the latest bed-nets, insecticide spraying techniques, rapid diagnostic testing and drugs - all being researched and tested in Africa - illness and mortality could be reduced still further. In Tanzania, Sarah Maxwell heard the latest from the Ifakara Health Institute's Director, Dr Salim Abdulla.