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Magnum on Malaria
Magnum photographer Chien-Chi Chang is currently in Uganda, accompanied by writer Kyu-Young Lee, to document the many sides of the malaria story – the tragedy, the solutions, the hope for tackling this disease – through the narrative potential of photography. It is the first effort of a new, ongoing project we’re calling Magnum On Malaria, through which we will track the worldwide effort to bring this disease under control. In the run up to Malaria Awareness Day on April 25, Chang will visit factories where first-line malaria drugs are being produced, fields where key ingredients are being grown, medical clinics where malaria is the number one cause of visits, homes where bed nets are used, a bed net distribution center and a brand new state-of-the art bed net factory. Donate money for bed nets as part of the Magnum on Malaria/Malaria No More partnership. Chang has just begun filing photographs from the last few days in Uganda. Watch this space as we explore the story of malaria through his lense. The story of malaria begins with the scale of the problem. 40 percent of the world’s population, some 3.2 billion people, are at risk of contracting malaria. There are 350 to 500 million diagnosed cases each year. The problem is most severe in sub-Saharan Africa where more than 1 million people die every year from the disease. Children and pregnant women are most vulnerable: malaria is the leading cause of death among children in Africa, with a child dying every 30 seconds from the disease; women are four times as likely to contract malaria as other adults, resulting in miscarriages and dangerously low birth weights. As these numbers suggest, malaria is a huge burden on the public health system in Africa. It accounts for as much as 50 percent of clinic caseloads in endemic areas. Go to any rural health center in sub-Saharan Africa and the disease is inescapable. Roomfuls of children sleep in malaria comas. People in remote villages have to rush their sick miles for proper care. Malaria has a devastating effect on the African economy, costing the continent some $12 billion a year in lost productivity and hundreds of millions more in health care costs. It is a major stumbling block to development: it is estimated that malaria endemic countries grow 1.3 percent slower than non-malaria endemic countries due to the disease. But the solutions are also well understood and the fight increasingly aggressive. The world has known how to defeat this disease for more than a century. Malaria was eliminated from America by 1951. Only recently, however, has the world community dramatically stepped up its funding for bed nets, indoor insecticide spraying, and access to anti-malaria drugs—the frontline weapons in the war on malaria. In 1994, international spending was just under $60 million; in 2004 it was $600 million. The best estimates say that it will require $3 billion a year to control the disease. Despite the sizable funding gap, success stories are beginning to emerge. On Zanzibar, a tiny pair of islands (population 800,000) located 2 miles off the mainland of Tanzania, malaria deaths have been virtually eliminated through a recent effort to distribute bed nets and medicines. The world is now looking to emulate this hopeful example. Beefed up malaria programs are rolling out all over sub-Saharan Africa with the backing of the Global Fund, the President’s Malaria Initiative, the World Bank and others. Uganda, for instance, will achieve 50 percent bed net coverage in the next few months with the conclusion of a major bed net effort funded in part by a public-private partnership between the President’s Malaria Initiative and Malaria No More. Pregnant mothers and children now sleep under the protection of insecticide-treated nets for first time in their lives. Magnum Photos would like to thank Nikon for supporting the Magnum on Malaria project.
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Reader comments (13)
Difficult to put words, but a thing(matter) m ' worries the indifference, our multinationals which think of bénifices and not has the sécurite! This more and more cynical government! And More and more censorship
Comment posted by DEGHIA FAIROUZ on April 19, 2007
I wish Chien Chi success, but I hope "Magnum on Malaria" will not concentrate on Africa only...
Comment posted by John Vink on April 19, 2007
CHEERS TO CHIEN CHI--MAGNUM SHOULD COCENTRATE ALL AREA WHICH ARE AFFECTED BE MALARIA--ALWAYS WITH CHIEN CHI,
REGARDS
- NILANJAN RAY
Comment posted by NILANJAN RAY on April 20, 2007
Magnum on Malaria is a great initiative. I hope we’ll see more Magnum photographers getting involved & I wish it every success. Changing the subject, if you not already done it, click on John Vink’s link & take a look at his “Dear Colleagues” series – another good idea too.
Comment posted by James Cox on April 23, 2007
James,
Maybe, but a little trivial...
Comment posted by John Vink on April 23, 2007
I note that the money is actually donated to UNICEF and American Red Cross. These are huge organisations that are not always the most efficient when it comes to distribution of aid.
What percentage of the money donated actually goes to buying a net for the person that requires it?
Some clear cut accountability on where the money is going is required if people are to donate to such large organisations.
Comment posted by Thomas Pickard on April 24, 2007
Yeah, point taken John. I did half regret mixing the two after posting, but I’d been looking through your stuff just before & enjoyed it.
Comment posted by James Cox on April 24, 2007
Re: Thomas Pickard: It's a good question, and something Malaria No More is very careful about. $9 out of every $10 goes to buying a bed net, delivering it, and educating on proper use. The remaining $1 funds Malaria No More's education and awareness efforts in America.
Comment posted by Martin Edlund / Malaria No More on April 26, 2007
I was not aware that malaria was such a problem, being from the USA. It wasn't until a company I bought stock in brought it to my attention. This company claims to have a cure for malaria in children:
Complete Care Medical, Inc. Introduces Revolutionary Malaria Cure for Children
Thursday March 8, 7:30 am ET
HOUSTON, TX--(MARKET WIRE)--Mar 8, 2007 -- Complete Care Medical, Inc. (Other OTC:CCMI.PK - News) introduces a revolutionary malaria cure designed specifically for children. "The effects of Malaria in children have reached epidemic levels. Complete Care Medical is thrilled to introduce this product, and we are excited about the effects it will have in curing Malaria in children worldwide," said J.P. Monteverde III, President and CEO of Complete Care Medical, Inc.
About Complete Care Medical, Inc.
Complete Care Medical, Inc. provides patients in all 50 states with lower cost alternatives for disease management, medical supplies and prescription pharmaceuticals. In addition, Complete Care Medical's discount services and medication program offer healthcare payers, healthcare providers, healthcare professionals, and patients easy access to utilization and compliance data in order to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Website: www.ccmedicalinc.com
What I can't understand is that they have kept it quiet. If there is such a cure why isn't it out there helping the children of the world.
Thank you
Comment posted by Mark on April 26, 2007
Mark, do you have a real name? It's always nice to know exactly who we are talking with... Maybe I am mistaken, but to me this post sounds more like a disguised advertisement from a pharmaceutical company. And we all know how generous they can be... Anyhow, the post shows that for some malaria is big business before being a dreadfull disease...
Comment posted by John Vink on April 27, 2007
Very appropriate and timely story and excellent coverage in highlighting simple steps, such as bed nets, that go a long way. Bravo!
It is interesting to note that in several countries malaria, especially drug resistant varieties, rebounded since the discontinuing of insecticides (mainly DDT) use. So safe or inexpensive substitute of DDT has been found yet. Bed net use or the availability of effective drugs cheaply, such as the most effective Artemisinin that is currently expensive but thanks to agencies such as the Gates Foundation might be produced cheaper in the near future, may not eradicate malaria in endemic countries because of poor water and drainage management issues leading to mostiquito infestation. Only a coordinated social and environmental management effort, such as better drainage, sustainable improvement in sanitary engineering and live-stock (mosquito host) management, coupled with preventive steps in personal health care now being taken can provide a lasting solution. We are a long way off from eradicating malaria.
Comment posted by Animesh Ray on June 27, 2007
check another photographer working on malaria on the Thai/Burma border at:
Robert Semeniuk and A chronic emergency: on the Burma-Thailand border
Comment posted by ruta Yawney on November 29, 2007
Hey we just released an album called save my soul - music to prevent malaria
this product will help fight malaria...
please check out the cd at
http://www.savemysoulcd.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O257nIPfvw
Comment posted by ed lyman on January 29, 2008