South African Malaria Initiative
Encyclopedia
The South African Malaria Initiative (SAMI) was established to facilitate the integration of malaria
research and related capacity development
in South Africa
and the rest of Africa.
Through SAMI a virtual expertise network of malaria researchers was established to more effectively address the problem of malaria.
The South African Department of Science and Technology committed 11,5 million ZAR over a period of two and a half years to support collaborative research programmes in SAMI.
The Mission of the South African Malaria Initiative is to facilitate an integrated programme of malaria research and capacity development in South Africa and eventually in the rest of Africa to improve malaria prevention and control. Modern research tools will be applied to malaria research. Outputs will include the identification and validation of drug
and insecticidal
targets, development of drug and insecticidal candidates, improved diagnostics
, and new tools for gathering epidemiological
information.
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
research and related capacity development
Capacity Development
The commitment, sealed in the in September 2000 in New York, of 190 countries to achieving the by 2015, and the urgent need for countries, particularly developing countries, to effectively and speedily respond to the current global economic recession, climate change and other crises that are...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and the rest of Africa.
Through SAMI a virtual expertise network of malaria researchers was established to more effectively address the problem of malaria.
The South African Department of Science and Technology committed 11,5 million ZAR over a period of two and a half years to support collaborative research programmes in SAMI.
The Mission of the South African Malaria Initiative is to facilitate an integrated programme of malaria research and capacity development in South Africa and eventually in the rest of Africa to improve malaria prevention and control. Modern research tools will be applied to malaria research. Outputs will include the identification and validation of drug
Antimalarial drug
Antimalarial medications, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Such drugs may be used for some or all of the following:* Treatment of malaria in individuals with suspected or confirmed infection...
and insecticidal
Insecticide
An insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
targets, development of drug and insecticidal candidates, improved diagnostics
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships...
, and new tools for gathering epidemiological
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
information.