In 2007, Bill and Melinda Gates committed themselves to eliminating malaria worldwide. Today, it has been eliminated in 111 countries but can it be eradicated worldwide? If it can, would the resources be better spent on other developing world health initiatives? Would controlling the disease be more beneficial than elimination?
During Biology Week 2014 we invited world leaders in Malaria research to the Royal Institution to debate vaccination, treatment, mosquitoes and policy.
Watch a power point presentation to accompany the debate and listen to the full debate…
00:00 Welcome from Martin Davies, public programme manager at The Royal Institution
02:21 Dr Mark Downs FSB, chief executive of the Society of Biology introduces the debate and chairperson
04:39 Chairperson Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Scientific Adviser & Director of Research, Department for International Development (DFID) frames the debate and introduces the speakers
08:47 Professor Robert Sinden from Imperial and the University of Oxford: “Yes I believe we should aim to eradicate malaria.” (Image referred to below.) Read Bob’s post: ‘Malaria control‘ on the Society blog.
12:28 Professor Eleanor Riley from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: “I’m the pessimist!”
17:06 Professor Janet Hemingway from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine: “Malaria is a disease of poverty.”
22:38 Dr Tony Holder from the National Institute of Medical Research: “We need political will, money, and new tools.” Read Tony’s post: ‘The evolution problem‘ on the Society blog.
28:54 Replies and challenges.
43:01 Questions from the floor.
See how the debate unfolded via social media in our Storify summary, or read more on our blog:
Eradicating Malaria: The evolution problem by Dr Tony Holder
Malaria control drains financial and human resources by Professor Robert Sinden
Can we outsmart malaria? A question of tactics by attendee Dara Annett, PhD student at the NIMR
Find out more about Biology Week 2015.