INAUGURAL MALARIA
AWARDS
2006
Established to honor and inspire individuals and organizations dedicated to the prevention and treatment of malaria. |
The MFI is proud to recognize the following 2006 Inaugural Malaria Awards from its first annual Malaria Awards Ceremony. The listing includes “2005 nominations” from peers, friends, colleagues, and fans. To
win, one must be nominated! The
MFI encourages everyone to acknowledge this year’s winners and start thinking
ahead for our 2007 awards! New nominations will be accepted
starting January 2007 in the same or newly suggested categories.
Read the press release! |
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Professor Wen Kilama, from Tanzania, is among the most
prominent malaria research, advocacy and political leaders in Africa. Professor Kilama was the opening speaker
in the First Atlanta “Hedge Funds vs. Malaria” Business Leadership Conference. Although now officially ‘retired’ for a
number of years, he remains as ‘out there’ and influential as 25 years ago when
he established the National Institute for Medical Research in Tanzania. Other
major accomplishments in the fight against malaria include establishing AMVTN
(Africa Malaria Vaccine Network) and more recently the AMANET (African Malaria
Network Trust), which now serves as the Secretariat for the world’s MIM
(Multilateral Initiative on Malaria). |
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Awa Marie Coll-Seck, MD,
PhD, is the Executive Secretary of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership and
heads the Partnership Secretariat based in Geneva. This past year she
demonstrated superior leadership aiming to raise the profile of malaria
globally and keep it on the world’s political and global health agendas.
Dr. Coll-Seck has risen to the challenge to make RBM thrive and succeed,
against the odds and major hurdles presented by malaria, with inadequate
political will and financial resources to readily tackle this disease
effectively. With Dr. Coll-Seck’s continued persistence, it is hoped that
adequate financial and expert resources will be achieved so that we see the RBM
partnership move increasingly in the direction of success in the fight against
malaria. |
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A Grammy Award winning Senegalese artist – for his leading
performance in AFRICA LIVE: The Roll Back Malaria Concert, in Dakar, Senegal,
in March, 2005, and The "United Against
Malaria" concert held in Geneva, Switzerland in October 2005 also
featuring friends, Corneille, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Peter Gabriel, Axelle Red,
Rokia Traoré as well as other guest artists from all five continents committed
to fighting malaria. The
Youssou N'Dour Fund, a partnership between the singer and the North
Carolina-based IntraHealth International, has since been established to
continue to raise funds to prevent malaria and promote better health in Africa.
The AFRICA LIVE concert film premiered at the UN and is now available to the
public. |
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Sharon Stone, recognized for “standing up”, “speaking up”, and raising $1 million in pledged
funds for malaria bednets within five minutes at the World
Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2005. The funds were pledged for the purchase of insecticide
treated bednets by the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
"I'd like to offer you $10,000 to buy some bednets today," Stone told
Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, who was on the panel. Just stand up. Just
stand up. People are dying in his country today, and that is not okay with
me," Stone told the delegates. While bednets are not a total solution, they are one tool that can help protect
individuals from the bites of infected mosquitoes while they are sleeping. |
First Lady Malaria Advocates of
the Year
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Ana Paula dos Santos
(Angola)
Madame
Anna Mkapa (Tanzania)
Janet Kataha Museveni (Uganda)
Laura Bush
(USA)
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First Lady Laura Bush (USA) provided her
support for the President’s Malaria Initiative in a speech at the Waldorf
Astoria in New York on September 14, 2005, with the presence and backing of the
First Ladies from Angola, Tanzania, and Uganda. |
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A well known singer from South Africa and also
referred to as the “Princess of Africa”, Yvonne Chaka Chaka performed at the prestigious Multilateral
Initiative on Malaria (MIM) conference in Senegal in March 2005 and other
venues for this cause. She was then
appointed by UNICEF in April 2005 as the Regional Spokesperson on Malaria for
Eastern and Southern Africa. |
Advocate of the Year |
Amir Attaran |
Amir Attaran – for his scholarly advocacy efforts and tenacity to ensure the promotion, availability and use of effective anti-malarial treatments. Dr. Attaran’s 2004 publications with political and media follow-up attention throughout 2005 has been instrumental in expediting the world’s move away from ineffective anti-malaria drugs to effective ACTs (artemisinin combination therapies). Dr. Attaran continues to stress the urgency for increased production, payment and distribution of the more expensive ACT medicines. (Interview with Dr. Attaran) |
New Malaria Advocate of the Year |
Lance Laifer |
Lance Laifer joined the malaria advocacy movement in 2005 to help raise global awareness and support from the public (Read Interview). Mr. Laifer launched the “Hedge Funds
vs. Malaria” movement in September 2005 and subsequent programs like “Dunk
Malaria”, Malaria Free Zones (MFZ), and the First International Fast Day Against Malaria (IFAM) with
relentless energy and passion to involve millions of people globally in the
fight against malaria. He has been joined by an increasing number of partners with the shared vision that the whole world needs to know and act against this preventable and treatable disease, which need not continue to kill 3,000 children each day. |
Philanthropist of the Year |
Rob Mather |
Rob Mather, for starting and successfully running
the “World Swim for Malaria”,
a global grass roots malaria awareness initiative that engaged over 250,000
swimmers and sponsors by December 2005 and raised over $1 million to support
the purchase and distribution of bednets in Africa, to protect individuals from
bites of infected mosquitoes while sleeping. |
Economist Advocate of the Year
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Director of the Free Africa
Foundation – for establishing the first “Malaria Free Zone”
village-based pilot project in Ghana in December 2005 and demonstrating the
eagerness within communities to rise to the challenge of ridding their
communities from malaria while also implementing sustainable development
projects. Additional MFZ pilot
projects have since also been established in multiple villages in Ghana and
Nigeria. |
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This MIM conference, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, November 2005, brought over 1500 malaria research scientists together from 65 countries. The MIM conference series has been heralded as an important networking opportunity for African scientists, and essential for building effective collaborations. |
Special Event of the Year
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AFRICA
LIVE: Roll Back Malaria Concert, Dakar, Senegal, March 2005
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This two-day music event featured 20 top African artists led by Youssou
N'Dour and including established stars such as Baaba Maal, Salif Keita, Orchestra
Baobab, Manu Dibango, Ali Farka Touré and Khaled as well as rising young
African talents. The event reached an estimated 40,000 spectators and an
additional audience of one billion worldwide via television, DVD, radio and CD,
celebrating the continent's creative energy and bringing a message of
empowerment and hope for tackling its major scourge: malaria. The concert film has since been shown
at the United Nations and by PBS, and is now available in stores. |
Scientist of the Year |
Dennis E. Kyle |
Dennis E. Kyle, with over twenty years of service to the Military Infectious Disease Research Program, at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), USA, Dennis E. Kyle has demonstrated a phenomenal record of productivity in malaria chemotherapy research. Active at both the bench and in research management he has made novel observations on mechanisms of recrudescence and resistance to artemisinin drugs and has spearheaded rigorous optimization for malaria chemoprophylaxis. His mentorship of graduate students and junior faculty will continue in his new position as Professor of Global Health at the University of South Florida School of Public Health. |
Sporting Event of the Year
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This grass roots effort is to be
awarded for its initiative and effectiveness in raising funds (over $1million),
creating widespread awareness and the participation of hundreds of thousands of
people worldwide. The power of the
WSM database for future grass roots efforts is also acknowledged. By way of example, this database was
used to launch the first International Fast Day Against Malaria (IFAM)
in May 2006. |
Short Film Maker of the Year
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Marcus Tomlinson, for the production of a television ad with the message “The number of children that will die today from
malaria would fill 7 jumbo jets”.
The ad can be viewed at the World Swim for Malaria website. |
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Retired National
Basketball Association (NBA) player, Steffond Johnson, for his commitment against malaria,
demonstrated in the creation of a short film and engaging presentation to help gain attention on malaria and engender the increased support of major
sports stars. |
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David Robertson, who, in his Drive Against Malaria, has traveled in over
57 countries in Europe and Africa raising awareness and political support
against malaria, for his continued persistence and efforts in 2005 to bring his
uniquely inspiring educational campaign to the United States and expand it
worldwide. |
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An outstanding teacher from
Botswana, who is educating and inspiring students to eradicate malaria. Through iEARN (International Education
and Research Network) Tommie Hamaluba is working to incorporate the topic of
malaria into classroom curriculums around the world. |
University Student of the Year
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A student of medicine &
surgery at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, he is a creative force
and source of hope and inspiration in the fight against malaria. He
is the Chief Architect of the new International Federation of Medical Students'
Associations (IFMSA) Campaign on Malaria (ICOM), which has worked to coordinated the
efforts of medical students worldwide against malaria. Through the ICOM, medical students have been involved in activities in
2005 ranging from the World Swim on Malaria, Africa Malaria Day celebrations,
to community based projects in endemic countries. He was responsible for the design, promotion and coordination
of the international series of workshop on malaria that takes place annually as
part of the IFMSA General Assemblies. Through the ICOM, Ayodeji is currently establishing
partnerships with several student lead projects and international institutions. |
Graduate Student of the Year |
Krystal Evans |
From the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia, with current research studies aimed at understanding the underlying cause of malaria anemia, awarded as an outstanding up-and-coming scientist and for her potential as an ambassador in the fight against malaria. |
Health Minister of the Year
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Eyitayo Lambo, Nigeria, for his stance against
malaria at the Africa Malaria Day 2005 Conference,
and beyond, with continued dedication in 2006 to ensure the availability of
effective malaria treatments and the broad distribution of knowledge about
malaria prevention and treatment in Nigeria. |
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United States Senator Brownback, member of
the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, for his advocacy role supporting
policy change to ensure commodities are purchased to prevent and treat malaria.
“Malaria is a curable and preventable disease, and our failure to reduce death
rates from malaria is inexcusable,” said Brownback. “Although malaria kills 1-2
million people a year, and is the leading killer of children in Africa, the
tools to fight malaria are readily available today. I congratulate USAID for
making these necessary changes to its malaria policy. This issue deeply
concerns me, and I have been working for over a year to reform the current
system so that it focuses on life-saving commodities. I’m hopeful this change
will dramatically reduce mortality rates and ultimately lead to the eradication
of malaria.” |
Educational Document of the Year
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KMMN, for
its role in educating and engaging global political leaders and agencies in the
issues pertaining to the proper use and necessity of DDT for malaria control. |
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Stacey is the director of the “Heart, Hope and
Love” project of the California-based volunteer run organization “Be the
Cause”. Be the Cause brings
multiple organizations together to purchase malarial bed nets which helps
children and families affected by malaria and AIDS. They purchase malarial bednets from a Kenyan project called
Women Equality Empowerment Project (WEEP) that supports women widowed as a
result of the AIDS epidemic. Those same nets get shipped to a medical clinic
next to Lake Victoria and are distributed for free to children and pregnant mothers
at risk of malaria infection. In
2005, the project raised funds to support the distribution of malaria bednets
for AIDS orphaned children, under the age of 5 years old and pregnant mothers
with children under the age of five years old. |
Global Media Reporter of the
Year
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CEO of AllAfrica Global
Media operator of AllAfrica.com, for the exceptional reporting on business,
development, social and health issues pertinent to Africa, including malaria specific
topics in 2005. All Africa Global
Media is a multi-media content service provider, systems technology developer
and the largest electronic distributor of African news and information worldwide. |
Television News Reporter of the
Year
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Jon Snow, from Channel 4 News in
London, for his special reporting on malaria political, business and social
issues based on his 2005 journeys in Africa. |
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The author of 'Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity' for his enlightening articles on the benefits of the insecticide DDT for malaria
control. As reported, the MYTH: DDT causes all kinds
of cancers, and nearly wiped out every bird in the world, and the TRUTH: DDT saves lives. |
Animator of the Year |
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Emmy Award winning artist from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia, awarded for his biomedical animations which include historical educational animated malaria images - which jump-started his career. |
Malaria Project Pioneer of the
Year
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Josh Gottlieb, for developing a
“Malaria Project’ to teach and engage students in the fight against malaria as
socially minded citizens. This 2005 project inspired the international MFI
program called “Student Leaders Against Malaria” (SLAM). An expanding interactive SLAM network
has since started to develop in the US and in Africa. See SLAM Webcast Video
presentations by Titus Korir and Cindy Korir. His 2005 project inspired the international MFI program called “Student Leaders Against Malaria” (SLAM) and the "Malaria Project Pioneer" concept. |
Community Leader of the Year
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The CEO of the Kenya NGOs Alliance Against Malaria (KeNAAM),
nominated for this dedication, team spirit and productivity as a new leader
working to motivate and encourage sustained leadership among young people in
the fight against malaria. |
Supportive AIDS Activist of the
Year
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KAWI, for participating in our MAC nominations. Great show of team spirit in the interest in Global Health! |
Laboratory Technician of the Year
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Mikhael Ahmad, from the Hasan Sadikin Bandung Hospital in West Java, Indonesia, nominated for his special efforts and dedication in correctly diagnosing malaria infections, including multiple species infections, during the January 2005 post-Tsunami period when medical and technical assistance was limited. |
Database manager of the year
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Mrigendra Pal Singh, from the National Institute
of Malaria Research, Field Station (NIMR- FS) Jabalpur, India, nominated for
his leadership role in building and maintaining a database management system
that supports not only local need but several international projects requiring
sophisticated data analysis and management of large databases to support research on malaria vaccine
trials and malaria illness, including cerebral malaria cases and disease
suffered by pregnant women. |
Most Polular Anti-Malaria Product of the Year
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Long Lasting Insecticide-Treated Nets
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These nets have been promoted for their superiority given the increased life span of the insecticide treatment process, and thus the longer lasting effectiveness of the netting in repelling or killing mosquitoes without further at home treatment required. |
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Time Magazine, for its special coverage on Global Health in the context
of the Time-Warner Global Health Summit of November, 2005. |
Magazine Article of the Year
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This December 2005 article provides a
glimpse into the complex malaria issues. Excerpt: “Long ago in the Gambia, West
Africa, a two-year-old boy named Ebrahim almost died of malaria. Decades later
Dr. Ebrahim Samba is still reminded of the fact …….The boy not only survived
but eventually became one of the most well-known leaders in Africa: Regional
Director of the World Health Organization.” |
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Molecular Approaches to Malaria
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This book is dedicated to
William Trager (1910-2005), who first cultured Plasmodium falciparum in the laboratory, and edited by Irwin Sherman, this book provides current scientific
knowledge for unraveling and gaining insights into the molecular and cell
biological nature of the malaria parasite and the Anopheline mosquito, which is
important for making new drugs and vaccines and controlling malaria. |
Scientific Speech of the Year
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This speech, titled "Is the transgenic mosquito as a weapon against malaria ever going
to fly?" was delivered at the 2005
Multilateral Initiative on Malaria meeting, in Yaounde, Cameroun. |
Scientific Presentation of the
Year
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This presentation, titled “Innovation in Developing Countries” was delivered at a Global Forum for Health
Research meeting in Mumbai, India. |
New Global Program of the Year
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The President’s
Malaria Initiative (PMI) was launched in the US in June 2005, pledging $1.2 billion to control malaria in at least 15 African countries, beginning with Tanzania, Uganda and Angola. |
Control Program of the Year
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The Government of Zambia, PATH, and local and global partners are working together with initial funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to institute the Government’s national malaria control plan, with emphasis on local successful malaria control strategies. Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA) aims to strengthen the countries health system so that these strategies can be applied across the nation of Zambia. |
Marketing Campaign of the Year
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This campaign
effectively reported that Malaria R&D global spending in 2004 was $323
million, while if malaria research were actually funded at the average rate for
all medical conditions, it would receive more that $3 billion in annual R&D
funding. This marketing campaign
research report was developed to highlight the need for increased research
support for the development and testing of new malaria drugs, vaccines and
control tools. |
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Novartis, for pioneering the development and distribution of the first Artemisnin Combination Therapies (ACTs) for widespread use and stimulating global interest in the immediate further development, use and evaluation of such effective malaria medicines. |
Most Innovative New Project of
the Year
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Measles and Malaria Campaign
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Largest Integrated Health Campaign Ever Saves Children From
Africa's Two Leading Killers. (Read here and here.) |
Malaria Advocacy Group of the
Year
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Africa Fighting Malaria, for its
daily up-to-date reporting and analysis of malaria issues to
garner increased financial support from government agencies and the appropriate
use of funds for the effective control of malaria. |
Global Health Advocacy Group of
the Year
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The Global Health Council, for its
organized engagement and briefing of key players in the global malaria
advocacy community. |
Global Health Advocate of the
Year
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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for raising awareness through the financial support of projects that
advance the development of malaria drugs and vaccines, and investigate
comprehensive malaria control strategies. |
WEBCAST Video Conference of the
Year
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Malaria Business Leadership Conference
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This webcast video aims to raise awareness
and engage new supporters and project leaders. |
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From the
United Nations Foundation – for his dedication, commitment, persistence,
and team support for malaria advocacy efforts globally. His attentiveness played out in the
development of the AFRICA LIVE: Roll Back Malaria Concert and in the support of many other new 2005 efforts including Hedge Funds vs.
Malaria, Student Leaders Against Malaria (SLAM) and this Malaria Awards
Ceremony (MAC) kick-off event. |
Faith-Based
Leader of the Year
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The author of
a “Purpose Driven Life” – for empowering people to join grass roots
efforts to fight malaria. Reverend
Warren’s P.E.A.C.E. plan, which addresses what he calls the five major
“Goliaths” of the world – spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership,
poverty, pandemic disease and illiteracy – touches on malaria prevention
tactics that begin with mobilizing local churches. It has been shown, he said,
that money and medicine are not enough to stop the spread of malaria.
"What is lacking is motivation and mobilization. Those are the things
keeping people in poverty and ill health." |
Influential Global Health Book
of the Year
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Jeffrey Sachs for End of
Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time. |
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Emory University, for its university-wide
recognition and support for the fight against malaria, as a host of the Malaria
Foundation International’s First Annual “Hedge Funds vs. Malaria” Business
Leadership Conference,
with faculty, administration and student support across campus. (See Press Release.) |
Research Publication of the Year
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Snow RW, Guerra CA, Noor AM, Myint HY, Hay SI
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The global
distribution of clinical episodes of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Nature. 2005 Mar 10;434(7030):214-7. |
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The Charlie Rose Show, for influencial interviews with leaders in the fight against malaria. |
