China-Africa cooperation initiatives in malaria control and elimination

Abstract

Malaria has affected human health globally with a significant burden of disease, and also has impeded social and economic development in the areas where it is present. In Africa, many countries have faced serious challenges in controlling malaria, in part due to major limitations in public health systems and primary health care infrastructure. Although China is a developing country, a set of control strategies and measures in different local settings have been implemented successfully by the National Malaria Control Programme over the last 60 years, with a low cost of investment. It is expected that Chinese experience may benefit malaria control in Africa. This review will address the importance and possibility of China-Africa collaboration in control of malaria in targeted African countries, as well as how to proceed toward the goal of elimination where this is technically feasible.

Keywords: Africa; China; Control; Cooperation; Elimination; Malaria.

Figure 12.1

Trend in malaria incidence rate Log 10 (1/10,000) in selected African countries and P.R. China from 1960 to 2011. (1) Substantial scaling-up impact on malaria incidence in P.R. China and some African countries. (2) Scaling-up impact on malaria incidence in P.R. China and low/moderate outcomes in some African countries (Tambo et al., 2012).