Recognizing U.S. contributions to Zambia's fight against malaria

In this Washington Post opinion piece, columnist Michael Gerson examines anti-malaria efforts in Zambia, writing, "Zambia has been the main test case for anti-malaria efforts during the last several years -- a focus of funding by the U.S. government, the [Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation] and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria." He continues, "Now the Anglican Church, international aid groups and philanthropists ... are attempting to fill remaining gaps in bednet coverage in remote border areas."

Gerson details these efforts and discusses some of the challenges programs face, noting that, "[d]espite such obstacles, anti-malaria efforts in Zambia have a history of success." He continues, "But much of the progress against malaria [in Zambia] has been made possible by the United States, particularly through the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) -- which has provided millions of nets in Zambia." He concludes, "In much of sub-Saharan Africa, the American image is now defined by the Peace Corps, by PMI and by PEPFAR, the American AIDS relief plan. It is a form of influence that is hard to measure or weigh. But people remember when you help to save their children" (4/5).