President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI)

Background

Approximately 90 percent of Rwandans are at risk of contracting malaria. The disease is the overall leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Rwanda, responsible for up to 50 percent of all outpatient visits.

Goal

The goal of the PMI is to reduce malaria-related mortality by 50 percent in target countries by reaching 85 percent of the most vulnerable groups – principally pregnant women, children under 5 years of age, and persons living with HIV/AIDS – with lifesaving services, supplies, and medicines.

Key Intervention Strategies

In support of the national malaria control program and in coordination with all development partners, including nongovernmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and the private sector, the PMI backs four key intervention strategies to prevent and treat malaria:

• Spraying with insecticides (“Indoor residual spraying,” or IRS) in homes
• Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs)
• Lifesaving drugs: Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs)
• Prevention of malaria in pregnant women: “Intermittent preventive treatment” (IPT)

PMI Funding

In fiscal year 2007, the PMI set aside $17 million in funding for malaria prevention and treatment in Rwanda.

ITNs

By the end of 2007, the PMI, in collaboration with partners, is expected to distribute up to 450,000 insecticide treated nets to pregnant women, children under five and the poorest of the poor households.

IPT

In 2007, the PMI supported the procurement and distribution of over 550,000 doses of malaria treatment to pregnant women nationwide through antenatal clinics. This activity will protect pregnant women and their unborn children from malaria while ensuring that women have access to a more thorough prenatal check-up.

IRS

During the month of August, the PMI is supporting the launch of IRS activities which will spray over 150,000 households indoors with insecticides and protect 800,000 people against malaria in three Kigali districts. This is the first time that the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) will use IRS on a large scale as a preventive intervention.

ACTs

The PMI works with the Government of Rwanda, private sector and implementing partners to expand the coverage of lifesaving drugs at the community level through a new program called home-based management of fever. The U.S. Government is currently contributing 700,000 treatments of ACTs.

PMI Fact Sheet