It’s All About the E

The question is what does the “e” stand for? That was the subject of much discussion at the PGH Forum on this overcast morning in Reston, VA. The all-star panel discussion spent more than an hour talking passionately about malaria and what it will take to contain the disease. For some, like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (and the sponsors of this Forum), the “e” stands for eradication of this devastating disease that will kill, by some accounts, an estimated 3,000 children in Africa before this day is over. For others, elimination is the goal because it is more achievable. Elimination focuses on controlling the disease and, therefore, reduces morbidity and mortality rates. Where do you stand on this global debate?