ExxonMobil, Equatorial Guinea, oil, and malaria

Journal of Public Health Policy: Equatorial Guinea, the most prosperous country in Africa, still bears a high malaria burden. With massive wealth from oil reserves and nearly half its population living in island ecotypes favorable for malaria control, only poor governance can explain continued parasite burden. The oil company ExxonMobil contributed to state failure by financially backing the country‟s dictator and other officials through illicit payments. Now ExxonMobil, which in part perpetuated the malaria burden in Equatorial Guinea, funds non-governmental organizations, charitable foundations, and universities to advocate for and undertake malaria work. The terms under which public health can ethically engage with such an actor are unclear. We reviewed the business and foundation activities of ExxonMobil and surveyed grantee organizations about their conflict of interest policies. Reforms in ExxonMobil‟s business practice as well as its charitable structure, and reforms in the way public health groups screen and manage conflicts of interest are needed to ensure any relationship ultimately improves the health of citizens.