Dear Partners,
This year’s American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting is taking place this week, between 30 October and 3 November. The meeting brings together tropical medicine and global health professionals from around the world, representing a number of key areas including government, NGOs and academia, among others, to offer practical insights and strategic vision on the fight against tropical diseases.
If you are taking part in the conference, make sure to attend the range of events taking place across the 5 days, with events hosted by the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Alliance (SMC), and the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE).
|
|
Reaching zero malaria: Malaria Day in the Americas 2022
In celebration of Malaria Day in the Americas, on 6 November, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) will be hosting a webinar on 4 November.
Malaria Day in the Americas offers an opportunity for the countries of the Americas to encourage the participation of the various actors and stakeholders in the battle against malaria.
Urgent action is needed to get the global response to malaria back on track, and responsibility for the challenge rests in the hands of the countries most affected by the disease. Parties interested in celebrating this day have the option of using the theme ‘reaching zero malaria’ to galvanize commitment to the fight against malaria, and using the resources in the below toolkit.
|
|
|
RBM Partnership supports the launch of new urban malaria framework
The Global framework for the response to malaria in urban areas is a new framework from the World Health Organization and UN Habitat to inform the control and elimination of malaria in urban environments. It provides guidance for city leaders, health programmes and urban planners as they respond to the challenges of rapid urbanization in a targeted way. For each urban context, the strategic use of data can inform effective, tailored responses and help build resilience against the threat of malaria and other vector-borne diseases.
Speaking at the launch of the framework on 31 October, Interim CEO, Dr Corine Karema, said: “The RBM Partnership is committed to providing support to malaria endemic countries in the implementation of this framework through various mechanisms, including direct technical assistance”. She added, “leveraging the power of businesses, non-governmental organization, civil society and wider community in the urban areas through the Zero Malaria Starts with Me campaign could be a potential mechanism to ensure the successful response to the challenges of malaria in urban areas.”
|
|
|
RBM Partnership announces new working group leadership
|
|
|
Case Management Working Group leadership
In October, the RBM Partnership was delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Noella Umulisa as co-chair of the Case Management Working Group (CMWG), alongside Dr Larry Barat who was also reappointed to the role. Dr Umulisa will take post alongside Dr Larry Barat, working together to achieve a consensus on complex strategic issues concerning scaling up implementation of policies for malaria case management, and on synthesizing and disseminating evidence-based best practice. As Dr Umulisa takes on her new role, the RBM Partnership also extends thanks to the departing co-chair, Dr Juma, for working tirelessly to keep country teams at the heart of our work.
Dr Noella Umulisa, new co-chair of CMWG
|
|
Social Behaviour Change Working Group leadership
The RBM Partnership was also pleased to announce that Miriam Wamala Nabukenya and Gabrielle Hunter have both been re-appointed to their roles as Co-Chairs of the RBM Partnership Social Behaviour Change Working Group (SBC WG) for 2022-2024. We look forward to another two years of their leadership on the working group and are excited to see what is to come.
Gabrielle Hunter, co-chair of SBC WG
Miriam Wamala Nabukenya, co-chair of SBC WG
|
|
RBM Partnership Secretariat hosts planning workshop
Early October saw the coming together of managers and regional partners from across the RBM Partnership for our annual 3-day Secretariat Planning Workshop. The workshop provided an opportunity to review progress made in 2022 to date, reflect on the Partnership’s goals and strategies and collaboratively discuss opportunities for 2023.
|
|
Vector Control Working Group (VCWG) holds special session on engaging the private sector in vector control
On 18 October, the Vector Control Working Group (VCWG) hosted a special session on engaging the public sector in vector control. During the session, the VCWG presented the landscape of private sector engagement in vector control and provided some historical and future perspectives on issues such as resource mobilization and implementation. The session also offered insights into private sector organizations’ work with national malaria programmes, sharing successes and challenges.
|
|
|
Malaria in the news:
Nature: Lifesaving fund to fight AIDS, malaria and TB falls short of $18-billion target
Interim CEO of the RBM Partnership, Dr Corine Karema, spoke to Nature about how donors’ commitments to the Global Fund are “critical” to getting the world on track to end malaria. Dr Karema said, “Any shortfall in funding would have serious implications for countries across the world still affected by malaria, potentially putting lives at risk.”
Vox: Target Malaria’s scientists are working to rid Africa of an ancient plague
Target Malaria’s Principal Investigators are featured in Vox’s Future Perfect 50 series. In the feature article, the four scientists discuss their plans to use gene drive technology to control populations of malaria-carrying mosquitoes in a bid to eradicate the disease completely.
New York Times: At long last, can malaria be eradicated?
The New York Times explores the latest innovations in malaria vaccine technology. The article not only highlights the need to create an efficacious vaccine against malaria, but also to overcome a number of other challenges that prevent vaccines from being delivered effectively, including rough terrain, other urgent medical priorities, and misinformation.
|
|
Upcoming Dates
30 October - 3 November - ASTMH Annual Meeting
6 November - SADC Malaria Day
6 November - Malaria Day in the Americas
9 November - Partner Briefing on Board Governance (session 1)
10 November - Partner Briefing on Board Governance (Session 2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
