Environmental management for malaria control in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region

This document from Health, Nutrition and Population division, World Bank, presents options to minimise malaria risks associated with infrastructure development projects in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region. It also aims to raise awareness of opportunities to design, construct and operate infrastructure as a sustainable means of reducing malaria transmission risks. The authors argue that environmental management offers exciting new opportunities for sustainable malaria control throughout the EAP as part of an integrated approach to malaria management.

The authors make three major recommendations. Firstly, health impact assessments should be part of the planning process of all infrastructure projects, in order to identify, qualify and possibly quantify adverse health effects at the earliest possible stage and suggest remedies. Secondly, design and installation of infrastructure works that modify the environment or support environmental manipulation activities should become a significant part of malaria interventions in the EAP Region. The utility and cost-effectiveness of such interventions need to be researched and confirmed. Thirdly, in order to build an enhanced capacity for multidisciplinary research, there is a need to invest in training at a variety of levels. [adapted from author]