How China and the United States Can Collaborate with Africa to Eradicate Malaria

How can the United States and China cooperate in Africa? A paper recently published in the Centre for Chinese Studies, Stellenbosch University, by Dr. Yawei Liu, Director of the China Program at the Carter Center, and William Pierce, former China Program Graduate Assistant, discuss malaria assistance in Africa.

Solid Foundations for a New Partnership: How China and the United States Can Collaborate with Africa to Eradicate Malaria offers insights on overcoming systematic challenges, broadening diagnosis and treatment availability, and scaling up effective programs, among other topics.

Abstract:

The United States (US) and China prioritize malaria assistance by broadening diagnosis and treatment availability at regional and grassroots levels. Despite complementary elements and direct overlap in their malaria assistance there has been little collaboration between the two countries. Systematic challenges including mutual suspicion, incompatible government structures and hesitancy on the part of Africans contribute to this lack of progress. China and the US can collaborate to broaden diagnosis and treatment availability, distribute insecticide-treated bed nets more effectively, standardize anti-malaria training and share relevant information on behavior change strategies, operational research and monitoring and evaluation. This collaboration can create synergy, producing greater health outcomes and improve the assistance programs, for instance, Chinese Medical Teams (CMTs), the anti-malaria project in the Comoros and anti-malaria centers can especially benefit. Perceptions are changing with leaders such as Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, praising past collaboration and former Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete, welcoming Chinese participation in multi-donor programs. The current policy framework makes Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Angola and Zambia especially viable for partnership. Greater Chinese participation in multi-donor forms and improved transparency can also facilitate this shift.