PMI VectorLink Extended to further Its Work in Ending Malaria

July 20, 2021

The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) recently extended the PMI VectorLink Project another 12 months, continuing its work to September 2023. Led by Abt Associates in partnership with Population Services International and PATH along with the support of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Malaria Consortium, Innovative Vector Control Consortium, McKinsey & Company, Inc., EnCompass LLC, BAO Systems LLC, Digital Globe, and Dimagi, Inc., the PMI VectorLink Project initially began in September 2017 as a five-year project to reduce the burden of malaria.

The one-year extension reflects the project’s success in planning, implementing, and monitoring life-saving vector control programs for indoor residual spraying (IRS) of insecticides and distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) across 24 countries in sub-Saharan Africa as well as in Cambodia and Colombia.

PMI VectorLink successfully navigated the challenges presented by COVID-19, including border closures, national lockdowns, and serious delays and drastic cost increases in the production, supply, and delivery of malaria commodities. Some of the highlights from 2020 include:

  • 21.3 million people protected from malaria through 16 timely, high-quality IRS campaigns

  • 3.49 million children and 636,527 pregnant women protected

  • >58,000 seasonal workers hired to support IRS (33% female)

  • >5.8 million insecticide treated nets (ITNs) distributed

  • 5 peer-reviewed journal articles published on studies that assessed malaria risks and increased trust in new vector control approaches

PMI VectorLink is excited to continue its fight to end malaria! Keep following us on our journey.