Overview

The ISMO Project, funded by UNITAID , was led by a consortium to improve malaria outcomes through improving access to injectable artesunate (Inj AS) and rectal artesunate (RAS). The project was carried out between 2013 and 2016 and aimed to:

• Increase the proportion of severe malaria cases treated by Inj AS versus quinine
• Increase uptake and use of quality RAS to patients for pre-referral intervention of severe malaria

Impact

• Support national scale-up of Inj AS through support mechanisms in six high burden countries
  • Approximately 85.5% of severe malaria cases were reported as treated with Inj AS
• Based on the 5.6m vials procured by the project, an estimated additional 41,500 (21,900 – 94,800) deaths and 660,300 (628,800 – 808,500) additional disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were averted over the project period
• Generated Inj AS commodity savings of US$2.8M
• Over 18,000 health care workers from 2,082 HCFs received training on Inj AS use