U.S Congress Briefed about Malaria in Africa

African scientists and researchers are on the front lines against one of the largest killers of children under five in Africa.

Dr Roma Chilengi of the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme and the Principal Investigator of the RTS,S Malaria Vaccine, is hoping against hope, that this time round, they will defeat a parasiste that has been both complex and adaptable.

Teaming up with Professor Tsiri Agbenyega, who is also a Principal Investigator based in Ghana, Dr Chilengi is working on a Phase 3 clinical trial of the most advanced malaria vaccine candidate, the RTS,S.

Dr Chilengi's research led him to the U.S.A where he had the rare opportunity to brief the U.S Congress on the important role that African researchers are playing in the battle against this deadly disease.

It almost looks like a race against time but Dr Chilengi is not a man who easily gives up. "There is need for continued investment in building up the capacity of researchers and research institutions in Africa if we are going to win the war against malaria. ''

He goes on to outline the reasons why supporting capacity building makes sense. ''Firstly without the facilities or training to conduct clinical research, the risk and burden for developing such products would fall on countries like the U.S. A that have the capacity. African nations could bear some of the risk if they had the technology and expertise necessary to conduct this research. Secondly if African researchers were able to work towards preventing rather than fighting diseases every day, donor funds could be channelled into other development projects.''

Aside from being the lead investigator in the search for a malaria vaccine, Dr Chilengi is also the Head of the Clinical Trials Team at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme and he takes it all in his stride.

''The importance of the RTS,S Phase 3 clinical trial and the challenges of conducting such a large scale study in Africa makes me very proud of the Phase Three Trials. We must not stop here; we are at a point where we must continue to work tirelessly until we win the war against this disease that continues to claim young lives in Africa.'' he sums up.