Progress towards malaria control targets in relation to national malaria programme funding

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Malaria control efforts have intensified globally, driven by increased international donor financing since 2003.
• This study evaluates malaria control progress up to 2010 against global targets.
• The assessment considers malaria program financing from the Global Fund, other donors, and domestic sources between 2003 and 2009.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relationship between malaria program financing and progress towards global malaria control targets.
• To analyze the impact of donor funding on insecticide-treated mosquito net (ITN) coverage and reductions in malaria case incidence and mortality.
• To identify opportunities for optimizing donor funding allocation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized domestic malaria financing data from national programs and Global Fund/OECD data for donor financing in 90 endemic countries.
• Incorporated WHO estimates of ITN ownership in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Used WHO-estimated malaria case incidence and deaths for countries outside sub-Saharan Africa.

Main Results:

• Donor funding, from the Global Fund and other sources, is concentrated in highly endemic African countries and those with the highest malaria burden outside Africa.
• Countries receiving higher donor funding per capita showed greater increases in ITN coverage (Africa) and larger declines in malaria case and death rates (outside Africa).
• Malaria program funding per case or death averted was more favorable in countries with higher per capita donor funding.

Conclusions:

• Increased malaria program funding correlates with accelerated progress toward malaria control objectives.
• Evidence suggests that strategic reallocation of donor funding to countries with the highest ongoing need can enhance ITN coverage and reduce malaria morbidity and mortality.
• Optimizing donor funding impact requires focusing resources on areas with the greatest malaria burden and need.