Rethinking Malaria in the Context of COVID-19
Since the inaugural leadership forum in 2011 and follow-up engagement in 2017, “Rethinking Malaria” for a uphold a longstanding academic tradition of convening multidisciplinary perspectives from diverse stakeholders in a neutral environment. Following a multi-month global engagement, findings from “Rethinking Malaria in the Context of COVID-19” will be shared at a virtual seminar on September 1, 2021. Registration is free (English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish live stream channels available)!
Progress in reducing the malaria burden in the world has plateaued in the last few years, after fifteen years of progressive reductions which resulted in an overall 50% reduction in burden and in deaths. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further threatened the bold ambition of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030.
COVID-19 has created new challenges for both human and financial resources and the delivery of essential malaria services. In short, it is time to take stock—what lessons have we learned from our earlier success that apply to our current context and where have our approaches fallen short? What are the most important next steps in addressing global malaria?
To gain a better understanding of these issues, Harvard University’s Defeating Malaria: From the Genes to the Globe Initiative initiated global engagement focused on “Rethinking Malaria in the Context of COVID–19” in partnership with the World Health Organization and partner institutions around the world. A key goal of “Rethinking Malaria” is to push beyond conventional thinking to question fundamental assumptions and approaches, with a focus on bold new ideas to achieve real-world progress.
This effort incorporates learnings from the growing body of evidence—including the Malaria Eradication Research Agenda (malERA) Refresh, World Malaria Report 2020, WHO Strategic Advisory Group on Malaria Eradication (SAGme), Lancet Commission on Malaria Eradication, etc.—to address the plateau to control and eradicate malaria in Africa.
Read more here.
