Technical Exchange 2017

Thursday, 26th of October 2017 marked another successful Technical Exchange with attendance from more than 15 contributing actors in Switzerland’s united engagement against malaria. This skill-sharing opportunity provided an open platform for key players to present their latest research and updates, ask questions about pressing issues and connect with other select contributors.

Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), CEO David Reddy: “Resistance is always biting at our heels!”

Staying one step ahead of the resistant parasite is imperative. To this end, David Reddy highlighted the importance of discovering new compounds to populate the research pipeline. MMV aims to progress at least two promising new compounds a year into translational development. This focus on bringing forward new tools to counter resistance is part of MMV’s 5-year strategy which also includes facilitating access to current and new medicines, and developing more effective next-generation antimalarials.

RBM Partnership, Daddi Wayessa, CRSPC Manager: The revitalised RBM Partnership to end malaria

The revitalised RBM Partnership to End Malaria is focussing on achieving the 2020 and 2030 goals set out by WHO through greater multi-sectoral engagement and cross-border collaboration. While there are many success stories, there is still much to be done owing to biological challenges and insecticide resistance which means that a child is still dying every 2 minutes from the disease. RBM’s 3 strategic priorities for 2018-2020 are: keeping malaria high on political and development agenda, establishing a regional approach and achieving sustainable malaria financing.

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Eric Huber, Project Leader: Swiss TPH Malaria Initiative

In order to improve the visibility and coherence of all malaria?related activities within Swiss TPH, in 2016, the Swiss TPH Malaria initiative was launched. The initiative’s home page summarises in 9 categories the malaria research and service activities that are conducted by a group that number about 200 staff members. During the presentation recent examples from the categories “Basic Malaria Research”, “Mosquito Biology & Control”, “Malaria Vaccines” and “Surveillance & Health Systems” were showcased to present the broad spectrum of activities done in the field of malaria at Swiss TPH.

PATH, Hana Bilak, Senior Technical Officer: Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA)

Hana discusses the global progress towards malaria elimination and the increasing number of countries who are moving towards zero prevalence. She describes MACEPA, a malarial control program working with national programs in Ethiopia, Senegal and Zambia to implement various steps to achieve elimination. PATH proposes a conceptual approach to eradicating malaria by following individual cases to the respective households of those infected and controlling or eliminating any remaining infection, thereby moving closer zero malaria. Hana Bilak places particular emphasis the importance of surveillance systems and helping national programmes with their individual reporting systems.

SolidarMed, Karolin Pfeiffer, Deputy Head of Program Department: SolidarMed‘s contribution to the fight against malaria

Karolin Pfeiffer describes SolidarMed’s focus in 5 countries with 25 projects and 10 million CHF funding. She emphasizes the thematic focus on the health of children and youths, sexual and reproductive health, infectious and non-communicable diseases. Working at different levels of the health system, SolidarMed’s focal areas are service delivery (supply chain, quality of care, referral system), community empowerment (mentoring, coaching, and training), monitoring, implementation research and advocacy and sensitization in Switzerland

Novartis Social Business, Dirk Ziegler, Senior Global Brand Manager: Novartis Social Business Update

Novartis Social Business was created when several company access programs combined in 2016. Their 3 pillars are access, innovation and sustainability with non-communicable diseases at the top of the agenda.  They abide by no profit but high distribution with sustainability being their main target.  They are also working hand-in-hand with countries to find out what they really need - what is each country’s strength and where can Novartis Social Business fill in the gaps? Utilising mobile and digital technology to enhance the supply chain and allow for better monitoring and e-learning, their long-term aim is to achieve integrated health initiatives with representation in 7 countries

FIND, Xavier Ding, Senior Scientific Officer: Diagnostic needs for malaria

Access to parasitological diagnosis has improved but more work is needed: 50% of children are not tested for malaria and 36% are not brought to care when the disease is suspected. In collaboration with WHO and other partners, FIND is working to ensure access to quality-assured malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). As part of this work FIND has evaluated of more than 200 types of RDTs and created an interactive resource to assist countries in making procurement decisions. Looking beyond RDTs, Xavier Ding highlighted the fact that several promising technologies are in development for malaria diagnosis. However, critical questions about new technologies need to be addressed, including feasibility of use in low-resource setting, cost-effectiveness and whether other test characteristics meet the required specifications to accelerate elimination.

Please contact the Secretariat if you would like copies of any of the presentations listed above which are not uploaded below:  info@swissmalariagroup.ch