What is Malaria?
Malaria is a deadly disease transmitted to people by mosquitoes. Malaria was eliminated in the U.S. in 1951, but it remains one of the most serious global health problems. Pregnant women and children are most at risk of dying from malaria, but the disease is both preventable and treatable. In 2017, Jhpiego-supported programs provided 4.9 million pregnant women with preventive treatment.
Pregnant women and children account for the vast majority of deaths due to malaria in Africa.
Countries we support
Half of the World’s Mothers Are at Risk of This Preventable Disease
Elyse and Jacqueline don’t know each other, but they live in the same region, see the same midwife and struggle with something all too common in their community: malaria.
How we make an impact
Prevention
We educate communities about the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and, where beneficial, provide preventive treatment for pregnant women and children under 5.
Diagnosis and treatment
We empower health workers at the community and facility levels to test for malaria and treat malaria cases.
Surveillance
We support case detection, follow-up, investigation and data collection to understand the impact of the disease on communities.
Technical Approach to Malaria Prevention and Treatment
As a young doctor in Ghana, Gladys Tetteh saw too many children die from severe malaria. Families needed better health education so they could spot the symptoms of malaria and bring their children in for a test and treatment. Today, Dr. Tetteh oversees Jhpiego’s expansive malaria programs operating in more than 18 countries in partnership with Ministries of Health. “We know how to beat malaria,” she says. “With an arsenal of malaria fighting tools, Jhpiego contributes to innovative global efforts to address and beat malaria in communities across Africa and Asia.”
Read more about our malaria workHelp us prevent malaria
With your support, together we can educate women and families on malaria prevention, empower health workers to test and treat, and support community case detection, follow-up, investigation and data collection.