MARC SE-Africa puts collaborative action on centre stage to tackle antimalarial resistance in East Africa
In the lead-up to Roll Back Malaria’s (RBM) Case Management Working Group annual meeting, MARC SE-Africa held an event aimed at coordinating regional action against antimalarial drug resistance. Key highlights, including updates on therapeutic efficacy, molecular surveillance, and the status of emerging resistance for the East African Community, were then presented during the annual meeting, emphasizing the need for shared responsibility and collaborative power.
As the largest platform for coordinated action against malaria, RBM is the key arena for discussions concerning the growing antimalarial drug resistance and regional response. Recognizing the importance of RBM’s Case Management Working Group, MARC SE-Africa brought together key stakeholders for a two-day pre-event on 22-23 September 2024 in Kigali. Participants joined from eight East African countries – Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania (mainland), Zanzibar, the DRC, and South Sudan – to address the growing challenge of antimalarial drug resistance.
In partnership with the Great Lakes Malaria Initiative and the East African Community (EAC), and with insight from funding partners like The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), Global Fund, and Medicines for Malaria Venture, this event set the foundation for coordinated action across the region.
Participants, including country representatives from their respective National Malaria Control Programs Managers (NMCPMs), funding partners, and East African health leaders, delved into the status of antimalarial resistance in each country, showcasing diverse perspectives and efforts to mitigate this pressing health threat. Together, the group focused on translating the latest evidence of resistance into policy and practice to strengthen the region’s malaria control strategies.
Key highlights included talks by MARC SE-Africa members, such as Dr. Eulambius Mlugu’s presentations on the East Africa Communities Regional Report and a detailed action plan for joint action on drug resistance, providing a roadmap for future interventions. Dr. Stephanie van Wyk introduced the MARC SE-Africa dashboard, a tool for tracking resistance data and supporting evidence-based decision-making across East Africa. Dr Donnie Mategula and Dr Marlen Chawanie showcased their social network analyses, mapping key actors and stakeholders in the fight against antimalarial resistance and reinforcing the importance of strategic collaboration.
The outcomes of this collaboration were fruitful and resulted in the development of two key documents: The antimalarial drug resistance profile for the East African region and the detailed regional action plan. These documents were shared with EAC Ministries of Health and will be presented during the 25th meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health in East Africa to guide a concerted effort in malaria control and to combat emerging drug resistance.
Following this powerful event, MARC SE-Africa members contributed to the 13th Annual Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Case Management Working Group meeting, hosted from 24 to 26 September. Prof. Karen Barnes presented the critical role of regional collaboration to the working group. Her talk emphasized the shared responsibility and collaborative power needed to address antimalarial resistance effectively.
Beyond the discussions, MARC SE-Africa joined RBM on a community outreach visit to a local health centre. There, the national malaria control programs demonstrated an innovative malaria management app used by Rwandan community health workers, furthering the reach of integrated malaria care.
These events feature MARC SE-Africa's commitment to fostering regional partnerships and implementing innovative tools and collated evidence to combat antimalarial resistance. They bring hope for a coordinated response to this urgent public health challenge in East Africa.
