Partners' Update May 2024

Dear Partners,

April 25 was World Malaria Day, which united the global malaria community to highlight global efforts to end malaria, the need for sustained political commitment and continued investment for malaria control and elimination. Under the theme of Health Equity, Gender and Human Rights, health advocates around the globe joined the global call the accelerate the fight towards ending malaria for all.

This year’s World Malaria Day featured many key insights and discussions including WHO GMP’s new operational strategy, MIM Society’s Pan-African Malaria Conference, and a $30 million commitment from the Government of Australia for accelerating malaria elimination is Asia Pacific. Additionally, the government of Papua New Guinea hosted partner meetings and community engagement activities ahead of the Asia Pacific Leaders’ Summit on Malaria Elimination on 6-7 June 2024 in Port Moresby. Leaders in Cambodia, Pakistan, and Thailand also recommitted to ending malaria.

Please find a round-up of stories on challenges and impact, engagement and progress towards malaria elimination from the global health community below. We thank you for your continued support and commitment to end malaria in our region.

Best wishes,

The APLMA Secretariat

Hon PM James Marape, MP to provide Keynote Address at the Asia Pacific Leaders’ Summit on Malaria Elimination in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea  

The Government of Papua New Guinea, in partnership with the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance, will host the 8th Asia Pacific Leaders’ Summit on Malaria Elimination on June 6-7, 2024 at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 

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WHO Global Malaria Programme launches new operational strategy

The strategy outlines 4 strategic objectives where WHO will focus its efforts, including developing norms and standards, introducing new tools and innovation, promoting strategic information for impact, and providing technical leadership of the global malaria response. 

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New Thematic Feature: Sustaining Efforts for a Post-Elimination Future in Asia Pacific

APLMA partnered with the Malaria Elimination Initiative to develop a Thematic Feature on sustainable malaria financing in Asia Pacific. This Thematic Feature looked at six country cases to share examples and best practices on how to implement activities and programmes across all sustainability domains. 

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Strengthening malaria response on the ground in Papua New Guinea – Naomi Gima, Malaria Champion

Naomi Gima is a Regional Malaria Coordinator in Papua New Guinea, leading a team conducting field visits to communities and health centres across Morobe Province to strengthen local capacities to prevent malaria. 

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Nepal Progressing to Malaria Elimination Ahead of 2030 Goal

Moving from 36 malaria cases to zero in Nepal will require accelerated support for malaria elimination initiatives, advocacy in cross-border collaboration, and community empowerment. 

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Can Test, Treat, Track Beat Malaria?

China's eradication of malaria in particular was a momentous feat, making it a potential blueprint for other countries in the region. Let's examine the lessons we can learn from China's malaria elimination strategy. 

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Unsung No More, Cambodia’s Malaria Hero

As Cambodia approaches its national goal of eliminating malaria, 86-year-old Chheang is finally getting the recognition he deserves: In December, he received the “Unsung Hero” award during the Reaching the Last Mile Forum at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. 

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Preventing Malaria Reintroduction: Strategies for Targeting Mobile and Migrant Populations

The APMEN SRWG organised a TechTalks webinar titled “Targeting Mobile and Migrant Populations to Prevent Malaria Reintroduction” to explore experiences and strategies from across the region. 

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Leaders across Asia Pacific showed commitment on World Malaria Day

1. Australia Minister of Foreign Affairs – Eliminating malaria in our region
2. Khmer Times – Cambodia moves closer to eradicating all forms of malaria by 2025
   
3. Daily Times Pakistan – President stresses joint efforts to control Malaria
   
4. News Directory – Thailand’s Department of Disease Control Leads World Malaria Day Campaign Towards Zero Cases by 2026
   
5. Medical Channel Asia – Malaria Cases in the Philippines Nearly Double in 2023
   
6. Daily Post Vanuatu – Vanuatu Battles Malaria Comeback: Health Ministry Steps Up Fight for Elimination by 2026

Updates from the global health community

The 8th Pan-African Malaria Conference by the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria was held in Kigali from 21-27 April 2024. Read the daily updates by MESA Malaria.

WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launch “Humanly Possible” campaign to scale up vaccination programmes around the world during World Immunization Week 2024.

World Bank Group president Ajay Banga announced an ambitious plan to support countries in delivering quality, affordable health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030 at the “Transforming Challenge into Action: Expanding Health Coverage for All” event.

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