Abt Global to Tackle Vector-Borne Diseases Worldwide: Wins Major Contract to Work in 22 Countries
BETHESDA, MD —The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) has awarded Abt Global a five-year, $472 million contract under the Prevention of Mosquito-Borne Diseases through Vector Control IDIQ.
Since 2000, Africa has seen major reductions in morbidity and mortality from malaria, primarily due to investments in vector control interventions by USAID, PMI, the Global Fund, and countries across the continent. Through this contract, Abt will support PMI and USAID to plan and implement an integrated vector control approach with the overall goal of reducing the burden of malaria in Africa.
This work builds on Abt’s current activities under the PMI Africa Indoor Residual Spraying (AIRS) Project across 17 countries to reduce the burden of malaria across Africa. The PMI AIRS Project protects millions of people in Africa from malaria by spraying insecticide on the walls, ceilings and other indoor resting places of mosquitoes that transmit malaria.
“Working in partnership with PMI, health ministries and other malaria-prevention stakeholders, Abt has carried out more than 60 spray campaigns in 17 African countries, protecting around 13 million people from malaria each year since 2011,” said Diana R. Silimperi, M.D., division vice president for International Health. “We will continue to bring our expertise and innovative thinking to tackle this deadly disease in a way that is cost-effective, efficient, safe and sustainable.”
Abt has implemented indoor residual spraying (IRS) for PMI since 2011, delivering high-quality IRS programs and gathering the most comprehensive vector control entomological data in the world. Under this contract, Abt will expand entomological monitoring to guide programs focused on insecticide-treated mosquito nets and IRS and continue to assist PMI in reducing the burden of malaria in Africa through IRS and capacity building in 22 countries where malaria is endemic. Abt also will continue to support PMI in IRS monitoring and evaluation, as well as environmental compliance.
Abt will work with two core partners – Population Services International and PATH—and four niche partners, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Malaria Consortium, Innovative Vector Control Consortium and McKinsey & Company, Inc., as well as three small businesses, EnCompass LLC, BAO Systems LLC, and Dimagi, Inc.
Abt Vice President Bradford Lucas will serve as project director, and Dereje Dengela, Abt’s renowned malaria expert and principal associate will serve as technical director. Allan Were, principal associate, will serve as Integrated Vector Control operations director and IRS lead.
About Abt Global
Abt Global is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt Global is regularly ranked as one of the top 20 global research firms and one of the top 40 international development innovators. The company has multiple offices in the U.S. and program offices in more than 50 countries. www.abtglobal.com.
Contact:
Mary Maguire
Mary_Maguire@abtassoc.com
301-347-5859
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