Updating the WHO Global Malaria Strategy

Representatives of malaria-affected countries and partner organizations gathered on 28 January in WHO Virtual Forum share feedback and perspectives on Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030. The roles of different stakeholder groups will be reflected in an updated strategy to be published in June 2021.

The 15-year WHO strategy – adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015 – is designed to guide and support all countries working to combat and eliminate malaria. It sets 4 global targets for 2030, as well as temporary milestones to track progress (see table below).

As published in the latest issue World Malaria Report, progress towards the two milestones of the 2020 strategy is inconsistent: reducing the global mortality rate and case frequency by at least 40%. 2 more key milestones focused on elimination at the country level and prevention of malaria recurrence are likely to be achieved.

Despite the remarkable gains seen in reducing malaria and deaths over the past two decades, progress in recent years has leveled off, and many countries are losing ground under heavy feet. The outbreak of the COVID pandemic in 2020 posed a serious additional challenge to malaria responses worldwide. Urgent and coordinated action is needed to change the global path of the disease.

Addressing the webinar participants, Dr. Tedros Adhan Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, noted that while achieving the goals of the 2030 strategy would be a challenge, countries and malaria endemic partners must remain firm in their commitment to achieving them.

“None of these challenges are simple, but they are not insurmountable either,” Dr. Tedros said. “Together we have already overcome many difficulties in the fight against malaria. And together, we can face the challenges we now face and realize our shared vision of a malaria-free world. “

Goals, milestones and goals for Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030

Refreshing the strategy

The updated strategy is fully aligned with the WHO 13. general work program (2019-2023) I Triple billion goals, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Health Coverage Agenda (UHC), a key driver of the Organization ‘s work around the world. It calls for better integration of malaria services into broader health care delivery systems and strengthened countries’ capacity to generate, analyze and use malaria-related data. The revised strategy also calls for the inclusion of malaria control in Europe Health-in-all-policies, with the aim of facilitating a multisectoral sectoral response.

The 5 guiding principles of the strategy will be amended to place greater emphasis on the key role of land ownership. A sixth principle will be added reflecting that successful responses to malaria are aided by resilient health systems. Other guiding principles focus on the need for strong surveillance systems, equality in access to health services, innovation in tools and approaches and interventions adapted to local conditions.

“Let’s move from a“ one-size-fits-all ”strategy toward a more tailored data-based approach,” said Dr. Pedro Alonso, WHO Director of the World Malaria Program, presenting the proposed updates. “It’s about identifying the people who suffer the most and bear the brunt of the disease, and then make a dedicated effort to reach them with the services they need.” This approach will help maximize available resources by ensuring efficiency, effectiveness and equity in malaria responses, he added.

First line feedback

Dr. Alonso’s words echoed the words of Dr. Jimmy Opiga, head of the national malaria program in Uganda, who described the “transformational” paradigm shift he has witnessed among malaria stakeholders over the past 5 years. “The malaria world has decided that instead of investing just to cover, we need to invest for impact,” he said during a webinar. “We have to optimize. We have to aim. We have to stratify. And for that, the data has become very important. “

The webinar also included the voices of health workers at the forefront, such as Ms. Luseshelo Simwing, a Malawian-based midwife who described the obstacles many pregnant women face in preventing malaria treatment. “People don’t visit health facilities most often because they feel they are not being treated with respect,” she said. “Local communities should demand their right to be treated equally, with respect and dignity, and to be provided with quality health services,” she added.

The supply of basic medicines in health facilities was another key barrier to access to treatment, Ms. Simwinga noted. “I want the government to prioritize the health of vulnerable populations like pregnant women and children by ensuring that the necessary medicines and supplies to treat malaria are always available in health facilities,” she said.

Thoughts of global partners

Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, CEO of the RBM Malaria Ending Partnership, stressed the importance of meeting the funding objectives of the strategy. “Now is not the time to reduce our level of ambition to achieve global malaria targets. However, each strategy is as good as the level of funding allows. We need to redouble our efforts to advocate and mobilize resources to eliminate malaria, which will bring too much return on investment, ”said Dr. Diallo. In 2019, global malaria control and elimination resources amounted to $ 3 billion, well below the estimated $ 5.6 billion needed to fully implement the strategy.

Dr. Dyann Wirth, chair of the WHO Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG), said the malaria community could learn lessons from responding to COVID-19. “Endemic countries, the WHO and their partners have stepped up to ensure that malaria prevention and treatment is not compromised,” she said. “The current crisis has forced innovation and emergency measures, the need for a quick response, the need for real-time data, the shift to community care and the protection of workers at the front from other infections.

Next steps

All stakeholders can continue to share their strategy feedback in the coming weeks by sending a message to: [email protected]. Consultations with key partners will continue over the next few months, culminating in a final review of the updated strategy by WHO MPAG. The strategy will be shared with member states for review at the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly in May and will be published next month.

Video recorded statements