Malaria kills over one million people per year - it is the world's most widespread and serious vector-borne disease. The poorest and most vulnerable people of Africa, Asia, the Pacific islands and South America are the most affected. The greatest burden is in Africa, where young children and pregnant women are at the greatest risk. This handbook provides accessible and up to date information on malaria and its control for health professionals, whether they are supervising malaria control interventions or carrying them out. Particularly designed for district health staff, it also provides essential information and guidance for other health staff, students and teachers. Each chapter has been written by an expert in his or her own field. Starting with basic information on the biology and epidemiology of the disease, the book contains detailed guidance on its clinical and parasitological diagnosis and its treatment. Special attention is given to malaria in pregnancy. Practical advice is given on methods of prevention and on how to plan malaria control interventions. The Malaria Consortium is a unique international non-governmental organisation dedicated to the control of malaria.It plays a vital role in the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. Working through regional centres of expertise, for example in Ghana and Uganda, the Consortium provides support to malaria control programmes in many countries. Among its activities are: initiatives to make the most effective therapy and insecticide-treated mosquito nets available to the poorest people; programmes for building skills and capacity at district and national level; and help in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of country programmes to control malaria. When this book was initiated, the Malaria Consortium was a joint resource centre of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, supported by the Department for International Development.
