Ziemer leads this $1.2 billion, five-year program which supports 15 African nations in an effort to reduce the burden of malaria, a mosquito-transmitted disease that kills a child in Africa every 30 seconds. He was invited to speak by Associate Professor Clare Gutteridge of the Academy’s chemistry department, who mentors Midshipmen in their efforts toward developing new malaria treatments.

Ziemer began his talk by sharing highlights from his 30 years in the Navy, beginning with his early career flying helicopters in Vietnam, and praised the Midshipmen for their commitment to the naval service. He then presented the scope of the malaria problem both in Africa and how it relates to U.S. military readiness.

Ziemer outlined the PMI’s multi-pronged approach to saving lives through partnerships with host governments and health providers of the 15 African nations, which focuses on both prevention and treatment. The prevention side involves the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) as well as the organized timely spraying of World Health Organization (WHO)-approved insecticides, referred to as indoor residual spraying (IRS). The treatment side involves distributing state-of-the-art lifesaving medication to those infected, including pregnant women since malaria significantly affects the development of the unborn child.

Measuring success is difficult since base-line data is scant, but Ziemer told the Midshipmen of a clinic in Zanzibar which has seen the number of children testing positive for malaria drop from over 45% to around 1% in just three years. Such results allowed President George W. Bush to comment, ''Americans should feel proud, mighty proud, of the work we’re doing in Africa.''

Following his address, Ziemer fielded questions including one from Midn. 2⁄C Sarah Gregory on the impact of the PMI’s efforts on the incidences of sickle-cell anemia, and one from Midn. 2⁄C Jessica Sims about African nations not currently partnered with PMI.

After the presentation, Midn. 3⁄C Jack Hatcher said the lecture effectively presented the practical use of chemistry in saving lives around the world and showed how chemistry is an integral part of the U.S. military. Midn. 3⁄C Katarina Williams remarked that Ziemer’s career in the Navy and his efforts against malaria are a testimony to the many opportunities Midshipmen will have as naval officers.