View source for Africa Fighting Malaria

'''Africa Fighting Malaria''' (AFM) is a non-profit group which states it "seeks to educate people about the scourge of Malaria and the political economy of malaria control." It is based in Washington D.C with an office in South Africa. AFM was formed in May 2000.<ref name="AR2003">Africa Fighting Malaria, "[http://www.fightingmalaria.org/pdfs/2003%20AFM%20Annual%20Report.pdf Africa Fighting Malaria Annual Report]", January 2003, p.1. </ref> In June 2003 AFM was incorporated as a [[501(c)(3)]] non-profit group in the United States.<ref name="AR2007"> Africa Fighting Malaria, "[http://www.fightingmalaria.org/pdfs/2006%20AFM%20Annual%20Report.pdf Annual Report January 2007]", p. 1. </ref>

In January 2007 it signaled that it hoped to broaden its focus beyond malaria "to research, write and comment on other healthcare issues, including AIDS policy, the debate over access to essential medicines and the protection of intellectual property rights, and water rights."<ref name="AR2007"/>

==Criticism==
*[[John Quiggin]], "[http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/rehabilitatingcarson/ Rehabilitating Carson]", ''Prospect'', May 24, 2008.

== Countering malaria and DDT==

AFM promotes the pesticide DDT as one of the most effective means of fighting malaria. It asserts that global health organizations must be free to employ all available tools to fight malaria and that the limited use of DDT for spraying homes and hospitals is a powerful and necessary tool in this fight. 

Critics say AFN does not actually fight [[malaria and DDT|malaria]], but is merely a pressure group that lobbies for [[Malaria and DDT|increased use of DDT]].

However, the [[World Health Organization]] has agreed that, carefully used, DDT is a highly effective means of reducing the incidence of malaria, particularly in Africa. The WHO approved the use of DDT for malaria control in September 2006. 

DDT is very effective at killing the insect vectors of malaria. Compared to the harm caused by malaria, the mild harm caused by DDT (to humans) makes the use of DDT reasonable in certain areas and climates. However, its overuse for other purposes has contributed to the emergence of DDT-resistant mosquitoes and has been shown to harm birds and other animal populations, leading to bans on its use.

AFM ran a "Save Children From Malaria" campaign designed to prevent the Stockholm Convention from banning the use of DDT.  The coalition consisted of
* [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]]
* Africa Fighting Malaria
* [[European Science and Environment Forum]]
* [[Liberty Institute]]
* [[Center for Dissemination of Economic Knowledge]] (CEDICE)

==Criticism of WHOPES==

In its 2007 annual report, AFM stated that in April it "published an influential report on the effect of UN-intervention in the nascent market for long-lasting insecticidal nets. The World Health Organization Pesticide Evaluation Scheme, or WHOPES, sets industry standards for nets, but the review process is slow and opaque, limiting access and competition for public resources. Although WHO approval does not preclude a donor agency or government from buying a particular brand of net, in reality governments and donors rarely buy nets that are not WHO approved. Because WHOPES only meets once a year, an unintended consequence has been to limit the number of suppliers. This has led to a market dominated by one firm, high prices, accusations of corruption in the procurement process, and reduced choice for consumers. AFM’s report received good feedback from the WHO Global
Malaria Program, the GFATM and net manufacturers, and its advocacy prompted donor support for the review process."<ref name="AR2007">Africa Fighting Malaria, "[http://fightingmalaria.org/pdfs/AFM_Annual_Report_2007.pdf Africa Fighting Malaria Annual Report 2007]", pages 3-4.</ref>

==Personnel==
===Board Members===
*[[Roger Bate]], was AFM's Chairman of the Board from 2003 to 2006. He is also a Fellow of the UK-based [[Institute of Economic Affairs]], a Resident Fellow at the [[American Enterprise Institute]] and was previously a co-founder of [[European Science and Environment Forum]].
*[[Lance Laifer]] 
*[[Gerry Ohrstrom]]
*Dr. [[Donald Roberts]], PhD is a Professor of Tropical Public Health at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.
*[[Richard Tren]], has been the Director of AFM since its inception in 2000;   in 2006 he became the chairman of the AFM board.

===Staff===
*[[Philip Coticelli]], a researcher, editor and public relations officer for AFM since 2005. 
*[[Kimberly Hess]], has been working as a researcher and editor for AFM since 2007.
*[[Francois Maartens]], has been working with AFM since July 2007.
*[[Lorraine Mooney]], who previously ran the [[European Science and Environment Forum]].
*[[Carlos Odora]], an AFM Fellow since 2006. 
*[[Jasson Urbach]], has been working with AFM since 2003. He is currently AFM's Southern Africa Director, as well as an economist with the [[Free Market Foundation]]. 
* [[Cosmin Florescu]], research assistant [http://www.nysun.com/opinion/whither-idols-money/54985/]

AFN director [[Richard Tren]] has worked in conjunction with other organizations, including the [[International Policy Network]]<ref name="AR2003">Africa Fighting Malaria, "[http://www.fightingmalaria.org/pdfs/2003%20AFM%20Annual%20Report.pdf Africa Fighting Malaria Annual Report]", January 2003, page 5. </ref>, the [[Free Market Foundation]] in South Africa (where he is a council member<ref>Free Market Foundation, [http://www.freemarketfoundation.com/patrons.asp "Patrons, Council, Advisors & Committees: Council"], Free Market Foundation website, accessed January 2009.</ref>, a position he has held since at least 2005)<ref>Richard Tren, [http://www.freemarketfoundation.com/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleType=Issue&ArticleId=2101 "Abolish exchange controls now"], Free Market Foundation, November 15, 2005.</ref> and the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]] in London. Tren also uses Africa Fighting Malaria as a platform for other health-related free-market opinions.  In particular, with [[Amir Attaran]], he has been vocal in attacking attempts (led by the [[Treatment Action Campaign]]) to supply generic versions of AIDS drugs to South Africa, on the grounds that this will stifle innovation.

Co-director [[Roger Bate]] is a resident fellow at the [[American Enterprise Institute]].

==Funding==

On its website AFM states that it "receives its funding from a number of different sources, however because of the nature of our work we have a policy of not accepting funds from any government, the insecticides industry or the pharmaceutical industry."<ref>Africa Fighting Malaria, [http://www.fightingmalaria.org/funding.aspx "Funding"], Africa Fighting Malaria website, accessed January 2009.</ref>

* [[Anglo American]] Chairman's Fund
* [[BHP Billiton]] plc
* The [[Earhart Foundation]]
* [[European Science and Environment Forum]]
* The [[Gelman Foundation]]
* [[International Policy Network]]
* The [[Marit and Hans Rausing Charitable Foundation]]
* [[Hedge Funds vs. Malaria]] 
* [[The Ohrstrom Foundation]]
* [[Marjorie E. Thiel and Wilbert A. Thiel Foundation]]
* [[Swordspoint Foundation]]

In its Form 990 annual returns to the Internal Revenue Service, AFM discloses that it its first year of operation in 2003 it had total revenue of $1.261 million but had total expenses of only $136,000.<ref name="AR2003"/> [[Jennifer Zambone]], who was a director of the organisation and its only paid employee, earned $35,000.<ref>Africa Fighting Malaria, "[http://www.fightingmalaria.org/pdfs/2003%20AFM%20Annual%20Report.pdf Africa Fighting Malaria Annual Report]", January 2003, page 4.</ref> The following year AFM's revenue plummeted to just under $71,000 but, with total expenses running to just over $299,000, it ate into its foundation grants. In 2004, the IRS return reveals that for 30 hours a week return, Roger Bate was paid $100,000 by the organisation. (Zambone's renumeration for her 40 hours a week had jumped from $35,00 to $60,000).<ref name="AR2004">Africa Fighting Malaria, "[http://www.fightingmalaria.org/pdfs/2004%20AFM%20Annual%20Report.pdf Africa Fighting Malaria Annual Report 2004]", August 2005, pages 1 and 4. </ref>

By 2005 AFM's income had improved little, with additional revenue of a little over $87,000. With expenses running at$273,608, AFM once more chewed into its generous initial funding grants. While Bate once more pulled down $100,000 for his 30 hours a week, Zambone's remuneration dropped back down to $35,000.<ref>Africa Fighting Malaria, "[http://www.fightingmalaria.org/pdfs/2005%20AFM%20Annual%20Report.pdf Africa Fighting Malaria Annual Report 2005]", August 2005, pages 1 and 4.</ref>  

In 2007 AFM's finances deteriorated even further, with the group having total revenue of only $142,745 while expenses ran at $405,729 - a deficit of well over $262,000. With only $268,000 in reserves remaining, the group faces a bleak future unless it can tap into significant new funding sources.<ref>Africa Fighting Malaria, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/300/162/2007-300162292-04255392-9.pdf Form 990: 2007"], Guidestar, page 1.</ref>

In the period between 2003 and 2005, despite all the columns written by Tren as a director of AFM, the IRS returns indicate that he was paid nothing. However, with Tren's move to Washington D.C in 2006 he took on the role of being both a board member and a director and was paid $59,167.<ref>Africa Fighting Malaria, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/300/162/2006-300162292-0360c660-9.pdf Form 990: 2006"], Guidestar, page 5.</ref> As Director and Chairman in 2007, Tren was paid $82,916.<ref>Africa Fighting Malaria, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2007/300/162/2007-300162292-04255392-9.pdf Form 990: 2007"], Guidestar, page 5.</ref>

At the foot of an October 2008 opinion column, Richard Tren stated that "Africa Fighting Malaria is not funded by the insecticides or chemical industry. AFM’s advocacy on the EU insecticides regulations and our participation at events in Brussels and elsewhere has been funded by a grant made by the [[MCJ Amelior Foundation]]."<ref>Richard Tren, [http://pesticideinfo.blogactiv.eu/2008/10/19/pesticides-an-alternative-view-from-africa-fighting-malaria/ " Pesticides: an alternative view from Africa Fighting Malaria"], ''Pesticide Information.eu'', October 19, 2008.</ref>

==Contact details==
Richard Tren<br>
1050 17th St NW # 520<br>
Washington, DC 20036 <br>
Tel: +1 202 223 3298 <br>
Fax: +1 202 223 3646 <br>
Web: http://www.fightingmalaria.org

PO Box 17156, Congella <br>
4013, South Africa <br>
Tel/Fax: + 27 31 206 1416 <br>
Cell: +27 83 776 3820<br>

==Articles and Resources==

===Related SourceWatch Articles===
*[[Long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets]]
*[[The World Health Organization and malaria control]]

===References===
<references/>

=== External links ===
====Columns by AFM Staff====
* Richard Tren, [http://www.aegis.com/news/wsj/2002/WJ020211.html The Boys From Brazil], ''The Wall Street Journal'', February 25, 2002.
====Reports by AFM====
* [[Philip Coticelli]], [http://www.fightingmalaria.org/pdfs/AFM_WHOPES_LLN.pdf ''WHOPES and Its Impact on Long-lasting Insecticidal Net Availability''], Africa Fighting Malaria Occasional Paper, April 23, 2007. (Pdf)

====General Articles====
* Tim Lambert, [http://cgi.cse.unsw.edu.au/~lambert/cgi-bin/blog/2005/02/11#ddt2 DDT madness], ''Deltoid'' blog, February 11, 2005.

[[category:Non-Government Organizations]][[category:Health]][[category:Environment]][[Category: Malaria]]