The review meeting of the National Malaria Programme Managers of South-East Asia Region was successfully held from 18-20 January 2022 virtually. It was attended by the national programme managers and their representatives, experts, partners and WHO. The meeting is an annual event, which provides a forum to review progress and coordinate malaria control and elimination activities in countries, and update on new global and regional guidance on malaria.
General Objective
To update on new global and regional guidance, review of progress in countries, and coordinate malaria control and elimination activities in the WHO South-East Asia Region
Specific Objectives
- To review progress in malaria control, elimination and prevention of reestablishment activities in South-East Asia Region, including subnational elimination.
- To provide updates on global and regional malaria policies, guidelines and recent advances.
Highlights of the meeting
- National Programme Managers and their representatives, experts, partners and three levels of WHO attended the meeting. The presentations and discussions highlighted the following:
- WHO South-East Asia Region achieved the 2020 GTS milestones (40% reduction of morbidity and mortality by 2020 compared to 2015), the only Region among all WHO regions to achieve 2020 milestones.
- All countries have demonstrated resilience in responding to the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 with innovative strategies and commitment, minimizing the risk of severe disruptions in malaria services.
- Despite the evolving pandemic and its impact on malaria service delivery, exceptional progress has been observed in certain countries during the past couple of years.
- However, such progress should not lead to complacency which can lead to reversal of gains made so far.
- The last mile of malaria elimination could be quite challenging.
- Common challenges include:
- Inadequate capacity at national subnational levels
- Cross border malaria transmission
- intervention access to high-risk populations (migrants, travellers, tribal communities)
- Commitment and sustainability in the wake of competing priorities
- Dwindling funding for malaria services, both external and domestic
- A systematic malaria guideline development process is currently underway and WHO would soon embark on a dissemination process.
Recommendations
Member States to consider the following:
- Conduct a comprehensive review to identify gaps in capacities at national and subnational levels. Develop and implement action plan to address those gaps (build and strengthen capacities at national and local levels).
- Strengthen malaria surveillance in accordance with the levels of malaria transmission (progress in elimination).
- Critically review the progress made so far against the agreed milestones and respective malaria elimination targets, plan course correction as required, and prioritize and accelerate subnational elimination in large countries.
- Strengthen surveillance and response along the international borders, including action for acceleration towards elimination on the high-burden side and cross-border collaboration.
- Intensify advocacy at all levels for malaria elimination and prevention of re-establishment with emphasis on improving domestic funding and human resources.
- Engage other sectors and health programmes to develop and implement innovative and sustainable delivery of health services to accelerate malaria burden reduction.
For WHO:
- Continue to technically support countries (including capacity building) to align with the WHO guidelines for malaria and in response to country needs in order to achieve respective malaria elimination targets, including for subnational elimination.
- Support countries to conduct assessments including surveillance assessments and malaria elimination readiness using MEAT, and monitor follow up action.
- Provide technical support to countries for border malaria.
- Facilitate procurement of antimalarials in countries close to malaria elimination which requires small volumes, to ensure an uninterrupted supply.
- Facilitate establishment/ strengthening of malaria data management systems in countries.