Alhough malaria can be prevented and treated, it is responsible for the deaths of more than one million people each year. More than 90 percent of these illnesses and fatalities occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria transmission is most intense; it kills mainly pregnant women and children under five years of age. A combination of preventive measures and effective treatments can significantly reduce the number of malaria deaths.
Malaria is caused by a parasite, Plasmodium, which is transmitted when an infected mosquitoe bites. Long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs) have proven highly effective in killing the mosquitoes that transmit malaria. In addition, the netting also acts as a protective barrier, helping to prevent the mosquito from biting. Consistently sleeping under an LLIN can decrease severe malaria by 45 percent, reduce premature births by 42 percent, and reduce all causes of child mortality by 17 to 63 percent.
Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the most effective drugs currently available for treating malaria. Symptoms of malaria include headaches, fever, and nausea; it is not easily distinguished from other illnesses. To maximize the effectiveness of the ACTs, malaria must be correctly diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) can help health workers easily identify if a person has malaria and should be treated with ACTs.
Under the USAID | DELIVER project, Task Order 3 procures and delivers LLINs, RDTs, ACTs, and other commodities, including laboratory equipment, to the 15 focus countries of the President’s Malaria Initiative ( PMI), as well as to Nigeria and other countries as requested by USAID.
TO3 also provides logistical expertise to effectively manage and control factors associated with these commodities, including—
Climate considerations: RDTs and antimalarial pharmaceuticals (e.g., ACTs) are temperature sensitive and absorb moisture. They should be stored at temperatures not exceeding 30 0 C; they must also be protected from moisture. Exposure to excessive heat and moisture degrades the drugs and makes them less effective.
Shelf life and expiry: For example, ACTs have a relatively short shelf life of 24 months.
Size and volume: For example, one LLIN shipment of 790,000 bed nets requires as much storage space as 30 40-foot shipping containers.
A well-functioning supply chain ensures that all components of the logistics cycle work effectively and efficiently , including product selection, forecasting and quantification, procurement, distribution (including storage, transportation, and inventory control), logistics management information, quality monitoring, and client service. By successfully managing the supply chain, TO3 contributes to increased malaria commodity security, helping to ensure that people are able to obtain and use quality malaria commodities when needed.
