Chemistry Professor Dr. Peyton Speaks about the Global Effort to End Malaria

Yesterday Dr. David Peyton came to speak to our Interfaith group which meets on Wednesdays at the Spiritual Life Center to speak about how malaria, which has contributed to the death of half of the people on the planet over the course of human history, can be effectively prevented, treated, and ultimately eradicated from our world. 

His expertise on the biology of the malaria parasite, and his knowledge of the history of the disease was impressive, and I certainly learned much from his presentation. 

He reviewed the history of failed eradication efforts in our world’s history, and explained that through large amounts of funding, organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, and the Affordable Medicines Facilities, have brought eradication back into focus.  

But it was his personal testimony, as someone who was motivated by his faith to put his whole laboratory and entire career behind the development of a drug to combat drug resistant strains of the parasite, that I found most inspiring.

Dr. Peyton explained the difference between elimination (which is achieved when no cases of malaria are found in a particular geographical region for a minimum of 5 years) and eradication of the disease from our planet.  He broke down the strategy for eradicating this disease as follows:

(1)   Attempt to eliminate the disease from geographical regions, beginning at the outer limits of the endemic regions using insecticides (especially indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated bed nets).

(2)   Move inwards into the centers of endemic regions.

(3)   Control and reduce the disease in these more difficult regions until the disease is eradicated.

Unlike humans, mosquitoes have no respect for national borders; thus, an outbreak of malaria is possible anywhere (yes, even in the United States) if there are both anopheles mosquitoes and malarias hosts.  Because of this, Dr. Peyton’s challenge to us was:

“If you are going to put your hand to this plow, you had better plow the whole field.” 

I would like to challenge you, to work with us as our world tries again – this time successfully – to eradicate this disease which needlessly kills so many in our world.  One way that you can do this is by supporting Project Muso (A Project for the Empowered Woman) which is doing excellent work in Yirimadjo, Mali toward eliminating malaria in their community. 

Go to our Donation page now and empower those in our global community who still suffer from this disease to protect their families and communities from malaria. 

Katie Myers

Faiths Act Fellow