“On the road to elimination . . . are we there yet?” SAMRC Malaria Research Conference 2023 

The Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa (MASHA) recently participated in the 8^th Southern African Malaria Research Conference that took place from 1-3 August 2023 in Pretoria. This was the first in-person gathering since 2019, hosted by the South African Medical Research Council’s Malaria Research Group (MRG) in collaboration with the National Department of Health. The theme of the conference was “On the road to elimination . . . are we there yet?”, with oral and poster presentations dedicated to this topic. 

The event was opened by the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo followed by a keynote address from Dr Roop Kumari from the World Health Organization (WHO), India. The conference created a platform for experienced and emerging scientists to share ideas, expertise, and lessons in areas of malaria control, elimination, and innovation. Noting the Department of Health’s goal to eliminate malaria by 2025, researchers presented their work to policymakers, public healthcare practitioners and scientists from across the southern African region. The discussions ranged from the discoveries in vector and parasite biology and control, advocacy for malaria elimination and the development of new innovative tools towards malaria elimination.  

Fourteen Malaria Modelling and Analytics, Leaders in Africa (MMALA) fellows presented posters proposing mathematical modelling approaches to a range of questions, such as: the effects of Intermittent Preventive Therapy in pregnancy (IPTp) in Zimbabwe; optimisation of interventions to control malaria in under-five children in Zambia; geospatial modelling of malaria transmission in Mozambique; assessing the impact of artemisinin resistance on malaria elimination in Southern Africa; and the dynamics of cross border transmission. In addition, Dr Stephanie Kamunya gave a presentation titled “Anopheles stephensi: The Unwanted Guest”, on the effectiveness of current malaria control measures given the establishment of A. stephensi as a new vector in Kenya.

 Students were able to engage with other presenters, broaden their networks and gain experience in communicating their proposed ideas. In addition, MMALA students were able to garner valuable feedback towards the development of their research topics, and nesting them within the context of ongoing, as yet unpublished progress in the wider malaria research community. Levoniah Chakuvinga, a MMALA PhD student, stated that “engaging with the malaria programme implementers at the conference regarding interventions in the community of Mashonaland West was beneficial, and I will incorporate it into my model.” 

The event highlighted the need for regional collaboration to achieve elimination and intensified efforts required to maintain vector surveillance as countries progress towards elimination. All in all, the conference concluded that South Africa is not on the road to elimination yet, however, current progress suggests that a 2030 goal is well within reach.