Malaria causes untold human suffering Claire Short, International Development Secretary Prime Minister Tony Blair has also pledged to double UK funding for the development of new treatments for diseases including malaria. The Gates Foundation money will support a new programme of research and training in London, Liverpool, Copenhagen, Malawi, Gambia, Ghana and Tanzania to develop new treatments and preventative measures co-ordinated by the London School. A key objective is to develop centres of excellence in Africa, where malaria remains a major problem.
Malaria is the most prevalent tropical disease in the world today.
Only through expanded research and partnerships will we begin to make progress in addressing this public health challenge. The London School's world renowned group of laboratory scientists, epidemiologists, control experts and economists will be working with counterparts in Europe and Africa to contribute to the new international goal to halve global mortality in children by 2010. Clare Short, International Development Secretary, welcomed the donation. The award of this grant reflects the UK's strong record in malaria work and of centres of excellence such as the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Professor Eleanor Riley, an expert on infectious diseases, said that indiscriminate use of anti-malarials had already led to widespread drug resistance.