By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Science for Africa
Foundation (SFA Foundation) has called for stronger institutional capacity,
domestic investment and regional collaboration to sustain genomic surveillance
and support malaria control and elimination across East Africa.
The foundation highlighted
these priorities during the “Malaria Genomics for East Africa pre-conference”
in Nairobi, held ahead of the second East African Community (EAC) Malaria
Stakeholders’ Meeting. The gathering brought together scientists, policymakers,
National Malaria Programmes and partners to explore how genomic surveillance
can strengthen malaria responses across the region.
Discussions focused on
translating genomic data into regional policies and strategies to monitor
malaria parasites and track resistance to antimalarial drugs and insecticides.
SFA Foundation led Track D,
titled “Capacity, Policy & Sustainability”, which examined the
institutional, policy and financing conditions needed to maintain genomic
surveillance across East Africa.
Moderated by Caxton M.,
Programme Manager for the Clinical Research and Trials Community (CRTC) at SFA
Foundation, the discussion emphasised the need to move beyond individual
training towards building institutional capacity, strengthening domestic investment,
addressing supply chain vulnerabilities and fostering closer collaboration
between researchers and National Malaria Programmes.
Participants also identified
regional approaches to shared infrastructure, data sharing and local
manufacturing as opportunities to strengthen surveillance systems and reduce
reliance on external supply chains.
