Stephanie van Wyk, Ishen Seocharan, Eulambius M. Mlugu, Dhol S. Ayuen, Donnie Mategula, Tikhala Makhaza, James Kiarie, Victor Asua, Jimmy Opigo, Aimable Mbituyumuremyi, Kibor Kipkemoi Keitany, Emmah Mongina Nyandigisi, Pierre Sinarinzi, Peter Aguek Kon Baak, Tommy Nseka Manbul, Samwel Lazaro Nhiga, Sijenunu Aron Mwaikambo, Maulid Kassim, Sija Joseph Sija, Abdikarin Hussein Hassan, Michael Katende, Jaishree Raman, Karen I. Barnes
The MARC SE-Africa dashboard: Joining forces to counteract emerging antimalarial resistance in South and East Africa
Doi: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000743
What is this publication about?
The article presents the antimalarial resistance dashboard developed by MARC SE-Africa in collaboration with nineteen national control malaria programs (NCMPs) and their partners. This tool can help malaria researchers and NCMPs access curated information on the latest available antimalarial resistance data. The researchers systematically reviewed, collated, and visualised antimalarial resistance information from therapeutic efficacy studies, molecular surveillance of Pfkelch13 ART-R genetic markers, current in-country malaria treatment policies, and reported malaria cases and deaths.
Why is this important?
Drug-resistant malaria is on the rise in Africa, putting the current malaria treatments at risk. To act on this developing situation and make informed, timely decisions, NCMPs must have access to the latest available evidence on treatment efficacy. This interactive dashboard compiles and visualises data from multiple sources, offering an up-to-date overview of resistance patterns and treatment efficacy. With its interactive maps and user-defined parameters, the dashboard enables detailed multinational and cross-border analysis, which is invaluable for identifying and monitoring emerging hotspots of resistance.
The dashboard was developed following a request by and in collaboration with NCMPs in East and Southern Africa and now enables data-driven insights into antimalarial drug resistance.
How can this make a difference?
The dashboard makes crucial malaria-related data easily available to inform malaria treatment policies in East and Southern Africa. It includes data from a regional perspective and provides insight beyond individual countries, thereby enabling NCMPs, researchers, and stakeholders to gain a broad regional understanding of the current situation and to collaborate with neighbouring countries to adapt malaria treatment policies.
In the past year, this tool has already been used in East and Southern Africa and has informed recent progress in responding to antimalarial drug resistance in these regions. Some of the milestones achieved using this data include: