Report Type: Issue/Program Report

Global leaders have united around a call to action to ensure that all people at risk of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa have access to prevention and treatment tools by the end of 2010. This would reduce deaths and illness from malaria by half in 2010 and bring deaths to near zero by 2015.1 This commitment was re-iterated by the UN Secretary General on World Malaria Day 2008 through his call for universal coverage of bed nets by 2010.

The Global Malaria Action Plan, which was launched in August 2008, includes a commitment to ensure universal coverage of long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINS) by 2010 in malaria endemic countries. Fulfilling this commitment to procure and distribute approximately 250 million LLINS by 2010 requires the rapid mobilization and coordination of a multi-sectoral coalition of donors, international organizations, malaria endemic and epidemic prone countries, implementing partners, and bed net manufacturers.

Through a decisive and timely response from the donor community, and with investments by the private sector in expanded production and distribution capacity, manufacturing and procurement of bed nets are being significantly scaled up to meet the substantial needs in this region.

The sustainability of such production and distribution can only be ensured through the creation of an efficient and transparent procurement system. The goal is to enable consistent access to quality-assured products, provide cost-effective solutions, utilize donor funds effectively, and ensure market sustainability to eliminate malaria. The donor community and the private sector have taken, and continue to take, significant action regarding procurement-related issues. However many challenges remain, therefore a collaborative approach with broad stakeholder mobilization is needed to facilitate the massive scale up.

» Download Improving Global Bed Net Procurement: Stakeholder Action Proposal