Overview

Workers trained in Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) march on World Malaria Day in Agoro Sare, Kenya. Source: James Kei/The Standard

The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI)

At least 1 million infants and children under age 5 in sub-Saharan Africa die each year from malaria – one approximately every 30 seconds. This is greater than the entire population of San Francisco and twice the population of Washington, D.C.

In June 2005, President Bush launched the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI). He pledged to increase U.S. malaria funding by more than $1.2 billion over five years to reduce deaths due to malaria by 50 percent in 15 African countries and challenged other donor countries, private foundations, and corporations to help reduce the suffering and death caused by this disease. PMI is a collaborative U.S. Government effort led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the Department of State, the White House, and others.

	Read the PMI Second Annual Report: Progress Through Partnerships - Saving Lives in Africa, March 2008 [PDF, 5MB]

The PMI goal will be achieved by reaching 85 percent of the most vulnerable groups – children under 5 years of age and pregnant women – with proven and effective prevention and treatment measures. PMI uses a comprehensive approach to prevent and treat malaria, supporting four key areas – indoor spraying of homes with insecticides, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, lifesaving antimalarial drugs, and treatment to prevent malaria in pregnant women.

PMI is already saving lives and has reached more than 6 million Africans.  In the first three focus countries – Uganda, Tanzania, and Angola – PMI distributed more than 1 million mosquito nets to protect pregnant women and children under age 5; conducted indoor residual spraying campaigns to shield over 2 million people; and procured over a million treatments of highly effective artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) and other antimalarial drugs to treat the disease. This year, an additional 30 million people are expected to benefit from lifesaving treatment and prevention measures as PMI expands to four additional countries.

PMI coordinates with national malaria control programs and international partners, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the World Bank Malaria Booster Program; the Roll Back Malaria Partnership; nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), including faith-based and community groups; and the private sector.

Who We Work With