A highlight of the 8th Pan-African Malaria Conference: MARC SE-Africa holds a symposium on antimalarial resistance
On 22 April, MARC SE-Africa consortium held a symposium on regional strategies to combat antimalarial resistance in Southern and Eastern Africa as part of this year’s Pan-African Malaria Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Society hosted the 8th Pan-African Malaria Conference from 21-27 April. This year, this seminal event focused on grassroots mobilization to end malaria, and took place against the backdrop of Rwanda's proactive stance in pioneering advanced responses to malaria, positioning the nation as a leader in malaria innovation not only in East Africa but across the continent. A highlight of this prestigious week-long event was the MARC SE-Africa Symposium held on 22 April, during which the consortium spotlighted the critical role of their work and contribution to regional strategies to combat antimalarial resistance in Southern and Eastern Africa.
Chaired by Dr Aline Uwimana of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre and Dr Charlotte Rasmussen of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, the event drew record attendance. Over 100 stakeholders filled the venue to capacity, demonstrating the significant interest and endorsement of the consortium's initiatives.
The session's popularity underscored the urgent community interest in innovative strategies for combating malaria, which is reflective of the high stakes in the region. Dr Karen Barnes set the stage with an insightful introduction to the consortium’s contributions and goals. Her presentation was followed by regional experts, including Dr Eulambius Mlugu, who discussed the momentum built with MARC SE-Africa's partnership with the East African Community Great Lakes Malaria Initiative, and the Ugandan representative Dr Joaniter Nankabirwa, who detailed proactive measures and collaborative efforts underway.
Dr Karen Barnes presenting MARC SE-Africa’s goals at the 8th Pan-African Malaria Conference
Technological innovations were also prominently featured, with Dr Stephanie van Wyk introducing the Moxie-Bot, a pivotal tool in streamlining the fight against malaria, which features curated resources and tools vital for healthcare workers, laboratory technicians, malaria program managers, and researchers to combat antimalarial resistance. Prof Prashanti Eachempati's presentation on the Magic App, an app-based dissemination tool for data-driven treatment guidelines, highlighted cutting-edge approaches to be adopted by healthcare providers effectively.
The symposium peaked with a dynamic Q&A session, fostering a robust dialogue among regional experts and attendees. This session not only reinforced the central role of the MARC SE-Africa consortium in driving forward the malaria elimination agenda in East Africa but also highlighted the power of effective collaboration and shared commitment. The event was a testament to the collective efforts needed to tackle one of the region’s most pressing public health challenges through curated response plans, developing and implementing digital health tools and platforms, and regional collaborative efforts.
