African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN), was formed in November 2006, and it is a network of African journalists and scientists working together to reduce the burden of malaria, which is endemic in most parts of Africa and the number one killer of children under five.

Nineteen print and electronic media journalists from nine African countries formed the network out of a media-training workshop on Reporting on Malaria Research in Africa held in Accra-Ghana in 2006, with sponsorship from INDEPTH Network's Malaria Clinical Trials Alliance (MCTA). 

AMMREN now has a membership of over one hundred journalists in ten African countries. The current participating African countries are Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and The Gambia.

Membership is open to journalists in all African countries.

OUR VISION

The vision of AMMREN is to become the leader in the provision of information for the prevention and control of malaria in Africa

OUR MISSION

To promote timely communication of malaria research findings and outcomes in Africa through strengthened collaboration between malaria researchers and journalists.

CORE VALUES

• Fair and responsible reporting
•  Linking malaria research outputs to communities
•  Respect for differing opinions
•  Putting malaria research first

KEY OBJECTIVE

• To promote malaria research communication in Africa through partnership with research institutions.
• Disseminate timely and accurate information on malaria control initiatives in Africa.

• Advocate implementation of international agreements on malaria signed by African leaders

•  Build and strengthen the capacity of African journalists to report effectively on malaria.

PRIORITY AREAS

1. Information sharing

• To disseminate accurate information on malaria control initiatives in Africa.

2. Partnership/Collaboration/Networking

• To promote sharing of research findings between scientists and journalists

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

• Identify and build partnership with malaria scientists at all clinical trail sites in Africa. This is to ease the difficulty in accessing information and research finding on malaria.

• Identify organizations with common goals for partnership in Africa and beyond.

• Identify issues, gaps, challenges, opportunities and interventions in other countries.

• Learn from the success stories of other networks in the fight against malaria.

3. ADVOCACY

• Monitoring the implementation of malaria policies in Africa

Specific objectives

• To educate and inform stakeholders about the impact of malaria on the political and socio- economic development of Africa.
• Promote discussions and debate on malaria menace in national and international forums with the aim of influencing policies on malaria in African countries.

4. Training and Capacity Building

• Train African journalists to report effectively on malaria