The PMI VectorLink Project

Malaria, one of the world’s deadliest diseases, is transmitted by one of the world’s smallest insects—the mosquito. Bites from malaria-carrying mosquitoes resulted in 247 million cases of malaria globally in 2021, with 619,000 people dying from the disease. To reduce malaria transmission and ensure that fewer people become sick or die from this illness, vector control—activities that prevent mosquitoes from spreading the disease—is essential.

The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) has protected millions of people from malaria since 2005, through malaria prevention and vector control efforts. Between 2017 and 2023, the PMI VectorLink Project  worked across 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa as well as Cambodia and Colombia, to help national malaria programs plan and implement lifesaving, cost-effective, evidence-based, and sustainable malaria control activities, with the overall goal of reducing malaria cases and deaths.

Strengthening Local Capacity: The PMI VectorLink Project focused on enabling local partners to implement malaria programs with minimal support. Through integrating data management systems, shifting implementation of spray campaigns to national programs, and providing research institutions with the skills and equipment to conduct key analyses, countries are one step closer to achieving local sustainability in their malaria control interventions. 

Reaching the Unreached: People living far from health centers, who are generally less likely to access any kind of health services. Refugee populations, who are often living in tented camps and may not be included in national malaria interventions. People living with disabilities, another group often overlooked when planning malaria control activities.