Regional strategy meeting advances malaria elimination efforts in Southern Africa

On 4 December 2024, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) hosted a first-of-its-kind meeting on malaria molecular surveillance as part of the ongoing efforts under the Elimination 8 (E8) initiative. The E8 brings together Southern African countries to collaborate towards malaria elimination. The landmark meeting, held in Johannesburg South Africa, was instrumental in advancing a regional strategy to mitigate the emergence of antimalarial drug resistance.

The meeting spotlighted the achievements of the Genomics for Malaria in E8 countries (GenE8) project, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It convened leading representatives from E8 member states alongside major global health entities, including the Mitigating Antimalarial Resistance Consortium for Southern and Eastern Africa (MARC SE-Africa), the Global Fund, the World Health Organization (WHO), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and national malaria control partners from Southern Africa.

MARC SE-Africa experts such as Dr Eulambius Mlugu and Dr Jaishree Raman provided invaluable insights into the ongoing challenges posed by drug-resistant malaria and the importance of robust molecular surveillance systems. Discussions focused on generating malaria genomic data in Southern Africa, addressing antimalarial drug and diagnostic resistance, and understanding the dynamics of mobile populations across the region. The consortium’s recent experience of preparing a detailed action plan for responding to antimalarial resistance in East Africa has greatly informed their contribution to the meeting.

The outcomes of this meeting will shape the framework for a regional action plan for Southern Africa that seeks to control and ultimately eliminate malaria from the region by enhancing cooperation and strengthening surveillance and response systems.

As the E8 countries strive towards this shared goal, the insights and commitments garnered during this meeting are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of malaria control and elimination in Southern Africa. All stakeholders' continued support and collaboration are essential to overcoming the challenges posed by malaria and achieving a malaria-free Southern Africa.