“We help translate evidence of drug-resistant malaria into policy and practice”: MARC SE-Africa webinar showcases value of regional collaboration
Malaria researchers, representatives of national malaria programmes, ministries of health and other malaria practitioners joined a MARC SE-Africa webinar on 20 May, looking to learn more about the current state of antimalarial drug resistance in Southern and East Africa and ways to address it.
Dr Rhona Mijumbi from the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme started the meeting by introducing MARC SE-Africa’s primary goal: expediting the sharing of evidence on the extent of antimalarial resistance in the region and strategies to mitigate this risk with national malaria programmes and their implementation partners. In short, the consortium helps link science to policy by building regional networks.
This work and collaboration with key stakeholders in East Africa have already produced significant results, as outlined by the first presenter, Dr Michael Katende, who heads the malaria unit at the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat. The collaboration of the EAC, member states and MARC SE-Africa, he said, has produced a consensus-based regional profile on drug resistant malaria and detailed action plan for East Africa, which the EAC ministers of health have recently endorsed. He emphasised the importance of creating policies that are adoptable, implementable, and can be monitored easily by the countries in the region and reaffirmed EAC’s commitment to continuing this work in collaboration with partners such as MARC SE-Africa.
Timely data sharing is key in creating effective antimalarial policies
Following Dr Katende’s informative introduction, Prof Karen Barnes from the University of Cape Town and MARC SE-Africa coordinator took the stage and presented MARC SE-Africa’s goals and how it supports regional collaboration, timely data sharing, and translation of drug-resistance surveillance results into evidence-based policy updates.
When publishing of data on antimalarial resistance takes several years, policymakers have difficulties responding effectively to the current situation in the field. Prof Barnes highlighted the fact that through increased efforts in the region, 11 countries have shared data before publication since 2023, addressing these barriers head-on. She also showed insights from a MARC SE-Africa tool for viewing the latest data concerning resistance to antimalarial drugs – their antimalarial resistance dashboard. The dashboard also allows users to view the Plasmodium falciparum Kelch 13 markers of artemisinin (partial) resistance, which function as an early warning for potential drug-resistant malaria as well as the risk of Artemisinin-based combination treatment failure. This publicly available tool helps malaria policy makers and practitioners visualise the current situation and demonstrates that these are not national problems, but regional threats. As such, they also require regional responses. Regional collaboration is key in protecting malaria treatment efficacy.
The case of Rwanda: A multipronged approach to controlling drug-resistant malaria
Following these calls for action, Dr Aline Uwimana, Division Manager of Maternal, Child and Community Health Division at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, presented the case of Rwanda and its government’s action in fighting malaria in the past few years. They have focused on the integration of different interventions and managed to achieve a decrease in malaria burden and, importantly, considerable improvements for children under five years. They also collect and analyse key surveillance data, including Kelch 13 mutations. Despite the prevalence of K13 mutations and delayed parasite clearance, efficacy of current malaria treatments remains high for now.
However, the recent international malaria funding cuts could affect many of the improvements in malaria surveillance and control, warned Dr Uwimana. These changes have affected several partners in the region and are already having a negative impact on local testing and sequencing for drug-resistant malaria.
Concluding the webinar, Dr Mijumbi emphasised the importance of continuing these conversations in the future. She reminded the participants of the progress already made in the region and the importance of keeping up the good work. Networks such as MARC SE-Africa are key in this respect, as they bring together different stakeholders to share evidence and resources, coordinate efforts, and co-create action plans. The leadership of regional organisations such as the EAC helps transform the plans into action.
Growing calls for joint action on drug-resistant malaria
This call comes at a critical time, with growing awareness and action against drug-resistant malaria. On the same day as the webinar, a dedicated session on drug-resistant malaria in Africa was held as a side event was held at the Seventy-eight World Health Assembly (WHA). Here health leaders from malaria-endemic African countries made a case for strengthened cooperation to protect the efficacy of artemisinin-based antimalarial drugs. This WHA session follows on advocacy and evidence syntheses by many global stakeholders including MARC SE-Africa and WWARN, with Professors Karen Barnes and Philippe Guerin attending a crucial Global Stakeholders meeting in March this year. A dedicated discussion on antimalarial resistance at WHO’s decision-making body is a testament to the collective advocacy of many groups committed to tackling malaria resistance.
Speakers at the WHA78 side event "Call from African Member States to prevent, detect and respond to antimalarial drug resistance in Africa”. Photo by Violaine Martin/MMV.
MARC SE-Africa joins the African health leaders’ calls for regional collaboration, timely data sharing and sustainable malaria control financing. The consortium will continue to bring together malaria practitioners and share the latest data on drug-resistant malaria and the best ways and resources to address it.
Information about future webinars will be shared on the project website – stay tuned!
