The Amazon Malaria Initiative

Countries in the Amazon Malaria Initiative (AMI) region have been successful in eliminating malaria in large geographical areas that have stable populations and good access to health care and medicines. However,  malaria still thrives in remote regions of the countries or “hot spots” where the population has limited access to basic health services. In Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname, malaria is mainly transmitted in mining regions; other countries of the region face similar challenges diagnosing and treating malaria in their own hot spots. Elimination depends on effective control of malaria in the remaining hot spots. SIAPS has just published a policy brief on knowledge, attitudes, and practices of malaria and malaria treatment in the small-scale gold mining sector in Suriname. The goal of the study was to document malaria treatment-seeking behaviors and provide a better understanding of current knowledge, attitudes, and practices in mining areas with regard to malaria testing and the use of malaria medication.