ABSTRACT
Malaria risk is enormously complex. Dealing with such a complex issue requires assembling all the relevant pieces and then arranging them in proper relationship to one another. If pieces are missing, then interventions may not have the intended effects. Or, they may work as planned but still be inferior to overlooked alternatives. Without a common, comprehensive perspective, it is difficult to interpret historical experiences or to pool them to reveal recurrent problems. Without a shared overall understanding, it is difficult to coordinate the parties that play the many roles needed for a successful intervention. Without a big picture of malaria, it is easier for a fashionable research issue or intervention to capture undue attention and resources.
