Personal reflections on malaria after 40 years of the Malaria Research Program at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research
- Author:
Michael P. Alpers
1
Author Information
1. Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Malaria - complications;
Antimalarial - therapeutic use
- From:
Papua New Guinea medical journal
2018;61(1-4):3-14
- CountryPapua New Guinea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
These reflections on malaria are mostly from the mirror of the past, which have their own intrinsic interest but also, through accounts of success and failure, shine some light on different paths into the future. The rich history of malaria research in New Guinea is briefly alluded to before turning to the work of the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research. The Malaria Research Program of the Institute began in 1976 and celebrated its 40-year anniversary in 2016. Stories about its beginnings and the personalities involved are recounted. Some of the early studies are described, including prophylaxis with antimalarial drugs in children. The many ways used to try and control malaria are outlined as well as the difficulties that were encountered in the face of dogmatic beliefs and colonial attitudes. New ideas included insecticidal mosquito nets used as bed-nets and a blood stage malaria vaccine, the travails with which are described in some detail. Further final reflections discount the idea of the eradication of malaria and look to the continued use in places where malaria is hard to control of a creative combination of partially successful measures. Playing with ideas is the basis of good science and, though it is more effective when done with sympathetic colleagues, these personal reflections are offered in the hope that they will not prove entirely narcissistic.
