Uniting against malaria: Key discussions at the 9th Southern Africa Research Conference

In Southern Africa, a region with one of the longest histories globally in combating malaria, continued efforts in malaria control remain at the top of the research agenda.

The 9th annual Southern Africa Malaria Research Conference, held from 31 July to 2 August 2024 at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Campus, brought together experts from across the region to discuss the latest developments in malaria research and control under the theme "Malaria Elimination… a moving target?".  This conference emphasised the importance of considering climate change, surveillance, and cross-border collaboration to drive sustained prevention and controlled strategies to reach the shared goal of malaria elimination.

MARC SE Africa members Dr Stephanie van Wyk and Dr Jaishree Raman were among the speakers providing insight into the importance of malaria surveillance in driving informed malaria control strategies from regional perspectives.

Dr van Wyk presented "Insights from the MARC SE-Africa Dashboard: Leveraging networking, collaboration, and expedited data sharing to combat antimalarial resistance in Southern and Eastern Africa," discussing the role of collaboration and data sharing in monitoring and combating antimalarial resistance.

Dr Raman addressed the audience with her presentation, "The E8-led regional malaria molecular surveillance initiative: successes, challenges, and opportunities." She outlined the initiative's achievements and obstacles and emphasised the importance of molecular surveillance in the fight against malaria in the region.

The conference provided a platform for sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration among researchers and public health professionals, working towards the common goal of malaria elimination. The insights and discussions from the event are expected to drive future strategies in the battle against malaria in Southern Africa.