MARC SE-Africa joins East African regional malaria stakeholders in Nairobi

More than 100 malaria stakeholders gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, from 7–9 October 2026 for the 2nd East African Community (EAC) Malaria Stakeholders’ Meeting, hosted by the RBM EAC Regional Malaria Coordinator, Dr Michael Katende. The meeting aimed to identify actionable steps and foster collaboration among regional bodies, including Africa CDC and WHO, national malaria programme managers, ministries of health, researchers, and partners from organisations such as Novartis and the Medicines for Malaria Venture, to assess progress towards malaria elimination and address emerging challenges across East Africa.

Meeting participants in Nairobi, Kenya.

Discussions focused on the changing malaria burden across EAC member countries, malaria vaccine implementation, molecular and genomic surveillance, and strategies to respond to growing antimalarial drug resistance. Particular attention was given to the future deployment of multiple first-line treatments. Notably, Dr Mehul Dhorda from a MARC SE-Africa partner WorldWide Antimalarial Research Network (WWARN), shared lessons from the evaluation of triple ACTs, and a representative from Novartis presented emerging non-ACT combination approaches designed to strengthen the future antimalarial treatment pipeline.

Dr Stephanie van Wyk, Dr Mireille Ngale, and Prof Karen Barnes represented MARC SE-Africa. Dr van Wyk presented on Parasite Clearance and the Changing Resistance Landscape in Africa, while Prof Barnes reflected on MARC SE-Africa's achievements and ongoing contributions. Their participation showcased the consortium’s ongoing commitment to translating molecular, therapeutic efficacy, and epidemiological evidence into regional action against antimalarial drug resistance, thereby strengthening regional strategies.

The meeting created a valuable space for countries and regional partners to compare experiences, share emerging evidence, and discuss practical responses to a changing malaria landscape. The meeting closed with a shared recognition that maintaining progress towards malaria elimination will depend on sustained collaboration, timely data sharing, and coordinated regional action as new resistance threats emerge. MARC SE-Africa was pleased to contribute to these conversations and support stronger links among surveillance, research, and malaria policy across the region, emphasising the collective effort needed to advance malaria elimination.