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The GlaxoSmithKline African Malaria Partnership

Young children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to malaria. Although this disease can easily and inexpensively be prevented and treated, over one million African children die from the disease each year.

Malaria costs African countries US$12 billion each year in healthcare costs and lost productivity, yet only a small fraction of this amount is spent combating the disease.

The GlaxoSmithKline African Malaria Partnership (AMP) was established in 2001 to support effective community-focused responses to improve the prevention and treatment of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.

The GlaxoSmithKline AMP works with and supports Roll Back Malaria partners to reduce suffering and death from malaria and achieve the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

Community behaviour change
The AMP has worked with a number of not-for-profit organisations in eight African countries to implement behaviour change programmes to improve the prevention and treatment of malaria in vulnerable communities comprising over two million people.

Through education that changes how people respond to the ever-present threat of the disease, these programmes increase the demand for, and use of, insecticide-treated bednets to prevent infection and improve the management of children and pregnant women affected by malaria.

• Sudan: Behaviour Promotion for Malaria Prevention and Treatment in partnership with Plan International
• Uganda: Uganda Malaria Partnership Programme with AMREF, Africare, Uganda Red Cross Society and Communication for Development Foundation of Uganda
• West Africa: Malaria education in 'Credit With Education' with Freedom from Hunger

Increasing advocacy efforts
In November 2005, the AMP announced a three-year grant of $1.5 million to the Malaria Consortium, for a new initiative 'Mobilising for Malaria' which aims to combat malaria in Africa through increased and sustained advocacy activities in Europe and Africa.

Adopting strategies that have been successful in the fight against HIV and AIDS, 'Mobilising for Malaria' will foster the development of malaria advocates, engage with the media and encourage the involvement of non-governmental organisations, community organisations, faith-based groups and others in tackling the disease.