Washington, DC, 25 April 2012 (PAHO) — On the occasion of World Malaria Day, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF), and the George Washington University Center for Global Health (CGH) are launching this year’s search for the “2012 Malaria Champions of the Americas.”

Currently in their fourth year, the annual awards honor innovative efforts that have significantly contributed to overcoming the challenges of malaria in communities, countries, or the Region of the Americas as a whole.

This year’s contest gets under way as the World Health Organization’s Global Malaria Program launches its new T3 (“Test, Treat, Track”) campaign. The T3 campaign urges malaria-endemic countries and donors to move toward universal access to diagnostic testing and antimalarial treatment and to build stronger malaria surveillance systems.

In the context of the global T3 campaign, ideal candidates for the 2012 Malaria Champions of the Americas contest should demonstrate accomplishments and/or best practices in all of the following: diagnostic testing, treatment, and surveillance of malaria. Nominations will be evaluated based on demonstrated achievements in capacity building, innovation, collaboration, and impact.

Winners of the 2012 Malaria Champion of the Americas award will receive:

• The opportunity to participate in three PAHO capacity-building trainings for malaria prevention and control
• A US$2,500 cash award for malaria-related capacity-building efforts (e.g., staff training/education, research, project proposal development, or other activities that enhance skills and abilities to achieve goals and targets)
• A commemorative plaque
• The opportunity to be featured in various communication platforms of PAHO, PAHEF, and GWU-CGH as a “best practice” story on malaria 

Nominations for the 2012 Malaria Champions of the Americas will be accepted from 25 April to 22 June 2012. Full details and nomination forms can be downloaded at www.paho.org/malaria2012.

Top winners will be recognized during the commemoration of Malaria Day in the Americas in November 2012.

Previous awardees have included:

• The Municipality of Wampusirpi in the Department of Gracias a Dios, Honduras, honored in 2011 for outstanding achievements in reducing the burden of malaria and establishing an effective model to combat malaria in a challenging socio-economic environment, particularly in indigenous communities.
• The National Malaria Board of Suriname, recognized in 2010 for outstanding achievement in reducing Suriname’s malaria burden through strengthened partnerships, community mobilization, and implementing a comprehensive program of surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment that extends to border areas and mobile populations.
• The National Service for Control of Arthropod-Transmitted Diseases (SNEM) in Ecuador's Ministry of Health and the Project for Malaria Control in Andean Border Areas (PAMAFRO) of the Andean Health Organization, honored in 2009 for outstanding contributions to the prevention and control of malaria through an innovative partnership targeting vulnerable populations.
• Other honorees have included Malaria Champions from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

PAHO, founded in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) is a US nonprofit organization located in Washington, DC. Founded in 1968, the foundation is dedicated to building public health expertise in the Americas to innovatively lead development of healthier generations by partnering with PAHO, the private sector, and major public health research, policy and development groups.

The George Washington Center for Global Health carries out innovative research and scholarly service activities to meet the evolving challenges of the 21st century global health and development environment. Working with a diverse group of partners, the Center aims to strengthen the link between science and policy and to improve responses to critical health issues around the world.

Links

• World Malaria Day 2012
  
• WHO’s T3 (Test, Treat, Track) Campaign
• Malaria Champions of the Americas 2012
  
• Malaria Champions of the Americas 2011 Videos
  
• Malaria Day in the Americas
  
• Malaria Page (PAHO)
  
  

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