The heavy cost of malaria and its subsequent toll on Africa is not a secret. For decades now malaria has continued to wreck havoc to fragile Sub Saharan African economies. Annually, malaria costs Africa a whooping $12billion on treatment alone. It decimates close to 2 million lives and leaves a feverish trail of 350 million others suffering from its debilitating fever. Looked at critically, malaria is not a stand-alone health concern but a socio-political imbroglio for the continent.

Way back on April 25, 2000, 53 African heads of States and governments met in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, and adopted the Roll Back Malaria Initiative aimed at galvanizing efforts to halve malaria related deaths in Africa by 2010. They took this step having realized the burden posed on the continent's progress with the ravages of malaria.

In this issue of “Eyes on Malaria” we maintain our usual wholistic reporting from the continent's malaria flash points and look at the progress made so far. Our main feature in this issue examines the latest arsenal in the malaria fight, unveiled by INDEPTH Network under the acronym INESS. INESS, which stands for INDEPTH Network Effectiveness and Safety Studies of Antimalarial in Africa, is a study looking at safety of anti-malaria drugs and their effectiveness in real life situations. INESS will collect and collate data on the safety of anti-malaria drugs used in Ghana, Tanzania, Burkina Faso and Mozambique over a period of four years. We have a special no-holds-barred interview with the brains
behind INESS to round up the INESS story coverage.

 Well researched articles percolated with humorous anecdotes on the effectiveness of ITNs; new findings on malaria treatment using herbs; the search for a malarial  vaccine and the link of poverty to malaria are festooned by neatly articulated profiles on Ifakara Health Institute (Tanzania), George Joaki Centre (Malawi) and Navrongo Health Research Centre (Ghana) are also on offer.

Indeed in “Eyes on Malaria” we retain our authoritative stance on malaria. A collector's item and a researcher’s pride. Enjoy the read.

Charity Binka

Managing Editor

Editorial Team
Eunice Menka
Wanjohi Kabukuru
Georgina Arthur
Elizabeth Gyemfa Anim