MADAM: an example of how a modest public-private
partnership can have a huge impact
Public-private partnerships seem to be the new buzz
words these days when it comes to talking about the
future of the control of infectious diseases such as
malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Many private
companies are deterred from taking action to form
public-private partnerships as they falsely believe
that the very term implies a large scale effort that,
due to the current economic environment, is beyond
However, Mama Dorcas Against Malaria (MADAM),
the Seventh Day Adventist Church (ADRA), the
East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC),
Roll Back Malaria, the Kenyatta National Hospital,
National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) of
Kenya and Bestnet Europe Ltd. recently joined
together to run a free medical camp Kenya that
demonstrated that even a modest effort can have
an important impact locally.
Background
“In Africa, many parents in malaria-endemic areas
have died from HIV/AIDS and the burden of raising
their children is left to their grandmothers,” said Dr
Tom Mboyo Owino, MADAM Coordinator and
Africa Malaria Goodwill Ambassador.
MADAM is a non-profit organization that was
founded by Mama Sarah Obama, step-grandmother
to US President Barack Obama. Also referred to
in English as the “Grandmothers Against Malaria
Initiative” (GAMI), MADAM’s principle mission
is to educate grandmothers on healthcare issues,
including malaria.
“Along with being educated on the use of LLINs
(long-lasting insecticidal nets),” Dr Owino said,
“grandmothers are also being educated to stop
using herbal medicines in favor of conventional
anti-malarial drugs recommended by the Ministry
of Health.”
A child holds a net at the free medical clinic in Kenya.
Main activities to date
On December 20, 2010, in the Rachuonyo District
of Kenya, MADAM, ADRA, EAPCC, Roll Back
Malaria, the Kenyatta National Hospital, the Kenya
NMCP and Bestnet Europe Ltd. ran a free one-day
medical camp. The event was held to support the
first launch of the Worldwide Project MADAM. The
total attendance was 5000 people in six different
stations/centres. Prior to the free clinic campaign
people were educated about the benefits of being
tested for malaria before taking medication as well
as sleeping under a treated mosquito net.
Results
Mama Sarah Obama was an honored guest at the
humanitarian event. Honored guests and featured
speakers also included the Honourable Kapembwa
Simbao, Minister of Health, Republic of Zambia,
and Chairman of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership
Board; Pr Robert Williams, Manchester SDA
Church; Pr Lewis Ondiek, Executive Director,
Kenya Lake Conference; Mark Ole Karbolo,
Chairman of the EAPCC; and Dr Tom Mboyo
Owino, MADAM Coordinator and Africa Malaria
Goodwill Ambassador.
Bestnet Europe Ltd. donated 500 Netprotect®
LLINS for the event and, according to Dr Owino,
“Every person who was treated at the Free Health
Camp that day was provided with a free mosquito
net.”
Plans for the future
“As a member of Roll Back Malaria, Bestnet is pleased
to have been able to donate Netprotect® LLINs for
this event. We look forward to opportunities to
support future events with MADAM and ADRA,”
said Trine Sig, Bestnet Europe Ltd. Managing
Director. Sig continued: “We would also like to
thank Esther Olumo, Healthcare and Scientific
Marketing Manager of Joh Achelis & Söhne GmbH,
our agent in Nairobi, Kenya, for her outstanding
work in helping to coordinate the successful event.”
As the results of this one event have shown, publicprivate partnerships, even on a modest scale, can
have a huge impact locally when properly planned
to include education as well as the free distribution
of anti-malarial commodities needed to save lives.
The private sector plays an important role in the fight against malaria and a recent publication demonstrates dramatic achievements.
Business Investing in Malaria Control: Economic Returns and a Healthy Workforce for Africa, the sixth report in the Roll Back Malaria
Progress & Impact Series, provides an in-depth analysis of how in malaria control has improved cost effectiveness and saved
lives at companies operating in malaria-endemic regions in Africa. This report, and others in the series, can be accessed online at
www.rollbackmalaria.org/ProgressImpactSeries.
Trine Sig, Bestnet Europe Ltd., Managing Director
Dr. Tom Mboyo Owino, MADAM Coordinator and
Africa Malaria Goodwill Ambassador
Esther Olumo, Healthcare and Scientific Marketing
Manager of Joh Achelis & Söhne GmbH