The African continent continues to be burdened by malaria. Four African countries – Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Tanzania account for almost half of global malaria deaths, and the continent as a whole accounts for 96% of malaria deaths, with children being the most affected.
Global, regional and national strategies to help eliminate the disease are, however, facing challenges. The spread of invasive species such as Anopheles stephensi into sub-Saharan Africa; the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the declining effectiveness of tools such as insecticide-treated bed nets could set back hard-won gains.
Investments in research and development (R&D) contributed to these gains in global malaria elimination – averting over 11 million deaths between 2000 and 2021. R&D is now more crucial than ever to address these challenges and bring to the market a new generation of tools and technologies to complement current strategies.
The Platform for Dialogue and Action on Health Technologies in Africa (Health Tech Platform), an initiative of the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), along with its partners Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) and Nouna Health Research Center (CRSN), is hosting a webinar series from 25 April to 20 June 2023 with the overall goal of providing a platform for stakeholders to discuss current and emerging interventions for malaria control, their (potential) effectiveness, and what is needed to end malaria in the continent.
The webinar series was launched on World Malaria Day 2023 and takes place biweekly every Tuesday, 2–3.30 pm EAT.
The webinar series sets out to:
1. Create awareness of malaria prevalence and deaths and the need to further optimise current interventions to eliminate malaria.
2. Create awareness of the ongoing efforts to eliminate malaria, with a focus on funding for research and development of new tools and technologies for malaria control.
3. Identify concrete actions that countries/actors need to take to accelerate progress towards developing new tools and technologies for malaria elimination.
The webinars – as a series of questions posed to experts and practitioners – aim to provide answers to the question: How do we end malaria in Africa?
WEBINAR 1: What will it take to significantly reduce malaria and eliminate the disease from Africa?
The first webinar in the series focused on the persisting high burden of malaria in Africa. It provided the audience with an overview of why malaria persists in the continent; current efforts to eliminate malaria; the challenges impeding the success of malaria intervention efforts; and the evidence on what it will take to eliminate malaria.
Date: 25 April 2023
Moderator: Dr. Rose Oronje – Director of Public Policy & Knowledge Translation, and Head of Kenya Office, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)
Keynote speaker: Prof. Richard Mukabana – Project Director of the Platform for Dialogue and Action on Health Technologies in Africa (Health Tech Platform), African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)
Panellists:
Mr. Shija Joseph Shija – Head, Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme (ZAMEP)
Dr. Fredros Okumu – Director of Science, Ifakara Health Institute (IHI)
Dr. Susan Imbahale – Senior Lecturer, Technical University of Kenya
Hon. Dr. Timothy Batuwa – Chair, Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Malaria (UPFM)
Watch the recording here: https://bit.ly/3LtMP8B
To read the summary of the webinar: https://bit.ly/4ftTTOt
WEBINAR 2: What are the threats to eliminating malaria from Africa by 2030, and what can we do about it?
The second webinar delved further into the persisting challenge in eliminating malaria from Africa, in reference to global targets set by the United Nations and the World Health Organization to effectively reduce the malaria burden by 2030. The webinar highlighted the immediate threats to malaria elimination and how these can be addressed to stay on course to achieve global targets by 2030.
Date: 9 May 2023
Moderator: Ms. Sandra Oketch – Research and Policy Associate, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)
Keynote speaker: Mr. Balla Jatta – NTD Programme Manager, Epidemiological & Disease Control Unit, Ministry of Health – The Gambia
Panellists:
Prof. Arti Prasad – Professor and Head, Department of Zoology, Mohanlal Sukhadia University
Dr. Chris Barasa – Chief of Party, Amref Health Africa in Kenya
Dr. Michael Okal – Director, Research and Development, Vector Health International Ltd
Dr. James Chirombo – Biostatistician, Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme (MLW)
Watch the recording here: https://bit.ly/44MTpyr
To read the summary of the webinar: https://bit.ly/48vZ3r7
WEBINAR 3: What should African countries do to ensure investments and sustainable financing mechanisms for malaria elimination?
Resources are without doubt vital for malaria control and elimination efforts. The third webinar outlined current levels of investments in malaria globally and in a select malaria-endemic country; the gaps in current funding of malaria and implications for malaria control programmes; and improvements to current financing mechanisms for malaria.
Date: 23 May 2023
Moderator: Ms. Ojoma Akor – Health Editor, Daily Trust Newspaper Nigeria
Keynote speaker: Dr. Perpetua E. Uhomoibhi – Director/National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Nigeria
Panellists:
Mr. John Bawa – Director, Malaria Vaccine Implementation, Center for Vaccine Innovation & Access, PATH
Dr. Themba Mzilahowa – Senior Entomologist, Malaria Alert Centre, KUHeS
Amb. Odinaka Kingsley Obeta – West African Lead, ALMA Youth Advisory Council
Dr. Donnie Mategula – Deputy Group Head, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research Programme
Watch the recording here: https://bit.ly/3OAWdZP
To read the summary of the webinar: https://bit.ly/48wLCHv
WEBINAR 4: What are the emerging health technologies that can complement current malaria intervention strategies?
Webinar four examines innovations being explored in Africa with potential to eliminate malaria, including vaccines, gene drive mosquitoes, and monoclonal antibodies. It provides the audience with an understanding of their basic mechanisms, and potential in supporting current malaria intervention strategies across the continent.
Date: 6 June 2023
Moderator: Ms. Ethel Makila – Director for Communication, Advocacy and Policy, IAVI
Keynote speaker: Dr. Fredros Okumu – Director of Science, Ifakara Health Institute
Panellists:
Dr. Neville Kisalu – Program Advisor, Center for Vaccine Innovation & Access, PATH
Dr. Rose Jalang’o – Head, National Vaccines and Immunization Program, Ministry of Health – Kenya
Mr. Aloyce Urassa – Chairperson, ALMA Youth Advisory Council
Dr. Brian Tarimo – Research Scientist, Ifakara Health Institute
Watch the recording here: http://bit.ly/43whJnu
To read the summary of the webinar: https://bit.ly/3YwQzLK
WEBINAR 5: How can Africa increase research and capacity on malaria control tools and technologies?
Research and development (R&D) has been the mainstay in the success of malaria elimination efforts. However, the innovations of the last century are declining in their effectiveness as the vector and parasite adapt. This webinar explores how R&D can be bolstered in Africa to bring the latest innovations for malaria control and elimination to the market.
Date: 20 June 2023
Moderator: Ms. Emily Chebet – Health and Science Reporter, Citizen TV
Keynote speaker: Prof. Faith Osier – Co-Director of the Institute of Infection and Chair of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London
Panellists:
Prof. Charles Mbogo – Public health entomologist, Chief Research Scientist, and President of the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA)
Dr. Susan Imbahale – Senior Lecturer, Technical University of Kenya
Dr. Donnie Mategula – Deputy Group Head, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research Programme
Dr. Sessinou Benoit Assogba – Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRCG-LSHTM)
Watch the recording here: http://bit.ly/43JFU1E
To read the summary of the webinar: https://bit.ly/4ea37P7