Malaria Consortium joins the WHO Malaria Expert Group on Surveillance and M&E

Malaria Consortium joins the WHO Malaria Expert Group on Surveillance and M&E

Malaria Consortium is delighted to have been invited to join the World Health Organization’s Global Malaria Programme’s Technical Expert Group on Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation.

This new group will have a vital role in reviewing evidence, summarising progress and providing guidance related to surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of malaria, and will make draft recommendations based on its findings to the Malaria Policy Advisory Committee (MPAC).

The past decade has witnessed tremendous expansion in the financing and coverage of malaria control programmes, which has led to significant decreases in malaria cases and deaths. However, while there has been much progress in programme implementation, the ability to track programme financing, coverage and impact remains weak, particularly in countries where both burden and malaria control investments are greatest. For example, of the 99 countries with on-going malaria transmission in 2012, 41 were unable to submit sufficiently complete and consistent data to reliably assess trends in malaria cases. These countries account for 85 percent of estimated malaria cases.

To address this, in 2013 MPAC endorsed the creation of this expert group to develop guidance on what strategies endemic countries can employ to monitor and evaluate malaria programmes.

“I am delighted to be invited to be a member of this Technical Expert Group and look forward to playing an active role,” said Dr Roca-Feltrer, Malaria Consortium’s Asia Technical Director, upon her appointment. “I believe recommendations from this group will provide valuable support tools and guidance to national programmes on how to better track programme financing, coverage, and impact with regards to malaria interventions.”

As the sole NGO member on the MPAC, this appointment recognises Malaria Consortium’s continued pivotal role in helping to develop malaria policies and standards across the globe.

To read more about malaria surveillance in Cambodia, click here

To read more about Malaria Consortium activities in Asia, click here