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R&D spends on Malaria

Billions of dollars are spent on research funding that has no use or some insane use. How many times have you come across some insane researcher giving you statistics that are absolutely useless?

Malaria on the other hand is one the biggest killers in tropical countries. It causes one to three million deaths each year and it is safe to assume these are underreported by a large margin. There are about 500 million reported cases each year. The indirect costs of these losses of life and health in Africa are estimated to be $12billion per year.

Even though with high impact cost the global research spend on Malaria was $323million (2004). 50% of these funds came from just two entities US NIAID and Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. 90% of the global grant was funded by just 12 entities including the above two.

Even though considering its enormous influence on tropical countries Malaria research is on backburner. The prime reason for this is probably the lack of awareness.

General population is under impression that malaria has been cured with quinine, controlled with DDT and other methods and since it has been around for centuries we would know enough about it. Unfortunately, none of these assumptions are correct.

The traditional control methods have become ineffective as the natural selection has made the carriers resistant. The medicines are loosing their effectiveness due to long usages and developing resistances. And more we know about malaria the lesser we know about it.

Fortunately, many countries prone to malarial disease have been able to bring it under control. But the disease stays rampant in sub-Saharan countries.

It is high time that everybody contributes to this cause of malaria eradication. One way you can start is by donating your computer free cycles using the BOINC system for Malaria control. Malaria Control uses your computing power (without affecting your performance at all) and uses it for malaria modeling and research. This is the least we all can do.

Resource - R&D spend on Malaria

Malaria Control


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