Initially, AMI included Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname. French Guiana participates in meetings, though it is not officially a member. Venezuela ceased participation at the end of 2007. Because these countries are in the Amazon Basin, they have found it advantageous to take a regional approach to combating malaria, emphasizing cooperative efforts in evaluating, for example, which antimalarial drugs are effective in the region.
Such efforts appear to have paid off. Between 2002 and 2006, Peru reduced laboratory-confirmed malaria cases by 30 percent. Brazil has achieved similarly dramatic results. From 77 malaria-related deaths in 2002, Brazil reached a zero-mortality level by 2005.Such results reflect the fact that the AMI partner countries have instituted use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for treating P. falciparum infections. This change occurred after efficacy studies established the inadequacy of previous treatment methods based primarily on chloroquine—a drug to which P. falciparum has, unfortunately, demonstrated extensive resistance in recent years.
One factor stalling the establishment of efficacious antimalarial treatments had been the lack of adequate surveillance techniques in the region. Through regional cooperation, this problem has been solved. Not only has surveillance been improved, but the effectiveness and accuracy of laboratory testing have improved thanks to support from AMI partners and a partner USAID program aimed at controlling antimicrobial resistance (the South American Infectious Disease Initiative, or SAIDI).
With improved quality assurance and quality control applied to antimalarial medications, as well as improved supply-chain management, treatment efforts have not only increased in efficacy, but have reduced the regional malaria burden significantly. Between 2001 and 2007, the number of reported cases of malaria declined by nearly 18% within the AMI partner countries. The number of malaria-associated deaths in the region declined by approximately 50 percent during the same period: from 252 to 127.
A microscopist takes a blood sample for malaria testing in Chocó, Colombia, 2009.
After the provision of technical support, the loading and unloading areas of the warehouse were protected from the weather and climate with a roof.
OMCL representatives attended in September 2009 a sub-regional workshop organized by PQM and PAHO to discuss sustainable approaches for strengthening OMCLs at national and regional levels.
Storage of medicines and supplies before and after the intervention
AMI partners, led by MSH, met in April 2010 to address medicine procurement in low incidence settings.
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Last updated on: 5/23/2011