The South African Malaria Initiative (SAMI) was established to facilitate the integration of
malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
research and related
capacity building
Capacity building (or capacity development, capacity strengthening) is the improvement in an individual's or organization's facility (or capability) "to produce, perform or deploy". The terms ''capacity building'' and ''capacity development'' ha ...
in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
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
The Department of Science and Innovation (DST; formerly the Department of Science and Technology) is the South African government department responsible for scientific research, including space programmes. The current Minister is Blade Nzimande. ...
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
Insecticides are substances used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and by consumers. Insecticides are claimed t ...
targets, development of drug and insecticidal candidates, improved
diagnostics
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines, with variations in the use of logic, analytics, and experience, to determine "cause and effect". In systems engineer ...
, and new tools for gathering
epidemiological
Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population.
It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evidenc ...
information.
References
External links
SAMI WebsiteSAMI Members Site{{malaria
Medical and health organisations based in South Africa
Malaria organizations