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[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Malaria captures attention of United Methodist leaders

>Sep. 30, 2008

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

>By Deborah White*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-Vanderbilt University scientists helped United
Methodist leaders confront a tiny killer of 2.7 million people a
year-the mosquito that carries malaria.

In fact, the mosquito is a "mass murderer," concluded members of the
global health committee of the United Methodist Commission on
Communication after meeting with researchers at Vanderbilt University
Medical Center's Institute for Global Health.

Five scientists presented to the committee their multi-faceted research
into breaking the cycle of malaria. Their work includes studying how
mosquitoes become infected with malaria, how they transmit malaria, what
smells attract mosquitoes, how to prevent contact with humans and how to
lure mosquitoes into traps. Scientists also gave a tour of the
institute's insectarium where they conduct experiments with eight
species of African mosquitoes flown in as larvae from Africa.

"We went to hear about a serial killer. This little critter called the
mosquito, it's one of the most dangerous critters in the world," said
the Rev. Greg Cox, during the committee's Sept. 26 report to the full
commission.

Scientists at Vanderbilt's Institute for Global Health are "very
passionate people involved in a process that will lead to the
eradication of a killer disease," said Cox, pastor of College Hill
United Methodist Church in Beaver Falls, Pa.

The United Methodist Church has identified global health and eradicating
the killer diseases of poverty-including malaria, tuberculosis and
HIV/AIDS-as one of the denomination's four areas of ministry focus. Out
of that focus, the denomination has launched its Global Health
Initiative, led by United Methodist Communications.

"The cycle of the disease is an important component," said Greg Nelson,
a commissioner from Halsey, Ore., who chairs the Oregon-Idaho Conference
Communications Committee. "We learned what they (mosquitoes) like, what
they want to smell. They like limburger cheese!"

Scientists emphasized the word "sustainability" in reference to tools
for eradicating malaria. "They are creating new systems-products like a
no-fly zone. Mosquitoes would be attracted to pods outside a house," Cox
said.

>Finding the right tools

The visit to Vanderbilt helped commissioners understand that bed nets
are important in preventing malaria.

Since 2006, the people of The United Methodist Church have been a
partner in the Nothing But Nets campaign, which has raised more than $20
million to buy insecticide-treated nets to protect families from
mosquitoes. "But to get to the point of eradication, we have to use more
tools," Nelson said.

Vanderbilt scientists emphasized that malaria is a disease of poverty.
"In order to change people, we can't just focus on health, but also
social and economic development," said Alfredo Vergara, a Vanderbilt
epidemiologist. "The impact of malaria worldwide is tremendous-300
million to 500 million people are living with malaria globally, most in
sub-Saharan Africa."

The economic impact of malaria on the health care system is also
large-about $14 billion annually, Vergara said. Yet only about 5 percent
of the deaths from malaria occur in hospitals. "We only see the ears of
the hippopotamus," he said.

Future interventions into malaria will include vaccines and genetic
modifications, the scientists predicted. 
  
"We are taking 21st-century science and using it to screen for better
repellents," said researcher Larry Zweibel. "We want to create no-fly
zones around people and huts." This could involve making traps of DDT
mixed with substances that attract mosquitoes or make their sense of
smell go into "overdrive."

Partnerships with local entrepreneurs could develop malaria-fighting
chemicals, but the Vanderbilt scientists have signed off all rights to
the World Health Organization. "We are not looking to make a profit. We
want to make a difference," Zweibel said.

>A 'foot in the door'

For United Methodists, the Nothing But Nets campaign "has gotten our
foot in the door" in the fight against malaria, said Bishop Thomas
Bickerton of Pittsburgh, a commission member who serves as a
spokesperson for Nothing But Nets.

But eradicating malaria will be a cooperative effort involving thousands
of players. "Nothing But Nets is just a tiny piece of this whole thing,"
Bickerton said.

"It's got to be more than nets," echoed Bishop Sally Dyck of Minnesota,
president of the United Methodist Commission on Communication.

An opportunity for United Methodists to expand the fight against malaria
and other diseases of poverty will come through the Global Health
Initiative, which was approved by the 2008 General Conference, the
denomination's top legislative assembly. The goal in the next three to
five years is to raise $75 million with another "challenge goal" of $25
million.

Bickerton was impressed with the work at Vanderbilt.

"The Global Health Initiative, if it's going to be successful, has to be
a comprehensive approach to making the world a healthier place for all
of God's children, and one of the places where we as United Methodists
can learn is in the area of science and research," he said.

The institute is, in a sense, a partner with the church because both are
recipients of Gates Foundation grant funds, Bickerton said.  He
expressed hope that the church would distribute vaccines, repellents and
medicines being developed at Vanderbilt.

"There was a wonderful spirit among those professors and scientists that
they, too, have the same goal that we have," he said, "to make the world
a better place for God's children."

*White is associate editor of Interpreter magazine.

News media contact: Deborah White, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

>********************

United Methodist News Service Photos and stories also available at: http://umns.umc.org

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