UAE and WHO Partner on Initiative to Establish Database to Fight Malaria Across 18 Nations
The Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), working under the Erth Zayed Philanthropies, has introduced a new undertaking aimed at eliminating malaria and preventing its resurgence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This project is fully financed by GLIDE and will involve creating a comprehensive digital database that will analyze national data from 18 MENA countries.
The collaboration includes the World Health Organisation (WHO), the University of Oxford, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and the WHO Global Malaria Programme. The initiative will be overseen by the WHO's entomology and vector control unit for the Eastern Mediterranean.
The focus of the project will be on gathering and mapping historical and current data on malaria transmission, with a particular emphasis on environmental factors and mosquito breeding patterns, especially those of the Anopheles mosquito. This data will support risk mapping, regional capacity-building, and evidence-based strategies to maintain a malaria-free status across the MENA region.
Dr. Farida Al Hosani, Deputy CEO of GLIDE, mentioned that the platform will aid in targeting interventions to national contexts and optimizing resource allocation. It will incorporate entomological surveillance, climate data, and environmental conditions such as rainfall, temperature, and land cover to identify high-risk areas.
Expected to be completed by July 2025, the platform will extend its coverage to countries within the EMRO and AFRO WHO regions. Despite most of the included countries currently being free of malaria, the ongoing presence of vectors and increased human mobility increases the risk of reintroduction.
Looking ahead, Dr. Al Hosani suggested that the platform may be expanded to include other vector-borne diseases, thereby bolstering regional health surveillance and response strategies.
This malaria elimination initiative is one facet of broader efforts to combat infectious diseases. It involves collaborative efforts with international organizations, governments, and health bodies to share knowledge and resources, which can be applied to various diseases. Focus areas often include vector control, surveillance and rapid response, and diagnostic testing and treatment.
The techniques and strategies developed for malaria elimination can be adapted for other vector-borne diseases, such as Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis, Dengue and Zika, and integrated with other health initiatives for enhanced overall health equity and reduced disease prevalence. Expanding these initiatives will require continued collaboration, capitalizing on technological advancements and new data insights to adapt strategies to specific disease demands.
- The collaboration between GLIDE, WHO, the University of Oxford, KEMRI, and the WHO Global Malaria Programme is utilizing research in science and entomology to analyze health-related data and environmental factors, with a focus on malaria transmission and mosquito breeding patterns.
- The comprehensive digital database created through this collaboration will incorporate entomological surveillance, climate data, and environmental conditions such as rainfall, temperature, and land cover to support risk mapping, regional capacity-building, and evidence-based strategies for health-and-wellness in the MENA region.
- The malaria elimination initiative, part of broader efforts to combat infectious diseases, emphasizes collaboration with international organizations, governments, and health bodies to adapt and apply techniques and strategies developed for one disease to others like Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis, Dengue, and Zika, thereby reducing disease prevalence and promoting health equity through enhanced overall health surveillance and response strategies.
