DH: Tropical anemia: one of Africa’s great killers and a rationale for linking malaria and neglected tropical disease control to achieve a common goal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2008

‘‘Wiping out malaria would join the eradication of smallpox as one of the greatest accomplishments in human history. It is a goal we can achieve.’’ Melinda Gates, co-founder, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation With more than 1 million child deaths annually, malaria remains the single leading killer of young children in sub-Saharan Africa [1]. Millions more young children survive, but still suffer from severe anemia and permanent neurological dam-age [1], as well as more subtle neuropsy-chiatric disturbances including impaired cognition and memory [2]. Malaria in pregnancy is also a major cause of maternal deaths and low birth weight [3], and together these maternal and child health effects account for huge economic losses that trap families in poverty [4]. As a result, malaria is now considered one of the key forces preventing the development of the African continent [4]. In response to a growing malaria crisis, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently an-nounced an ambitious program of ex-panded malaria control, with a long-term goal of malaria eradication [5]. The major elements of expanded malaria control include strengthening of prevention and treatment programs worldwide throug