Malaria elimination in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region has recently advanced with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC) and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership to End Malaria. The MoU signing, held at UP’s Future Africa campus, brought together key stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Leaders Malaria Alliance.
UP Interim Vice-Chancellor Prof. Themba Mosia stressed the need for a sustained, interdisciplinary approach to malaria elimination. He warned that global progress is stalling, putting years of investment at risk. With this in mind, Dr Taneshka Kruger, a project manager at UP ISMC, explained that the MoU aims to build capacity, support students, and address challenges like resource mobilisation and climate change. The goal is to drive sustainable progress in reducing malaria and improving public health.
Prof. Tiaan de Jager, dean of UP’s Faculty of Health Sciences, highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in combating malaria. He emphasised that the partnership with Roll Back Malaria will enhance research, share best practices, and develop strategies to tackle the root causes of malaria.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, praised the MoU as a key step in empowering regional medical practitioners. He stressed the need for governments to lead the charge against malaria with strong, evidence-based policies. Ednah Baloyi, director of Malaria and Vector-Borne Diseases at South Africa’s Department of Health, highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration to combat malaria effectively.
The SADC, consisting of 16 member states, includes some of the countries hit the hardest by malaria. While all SADC nations aim to eliminate malaria by 2030, only three have achieved malaria-free status.
World Mosquito Day, observed on 20 August, marks Sir Ronald Ross’s 1897 discovery that female anopheline mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans. A West African proverb says, “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito.” This highlights the mosquito’s small size but immense impact on public health, symbolising the importance of collective efforts in the fight against malaria.
In September, PDBY will explore this topic further in a discussion with Prof. De Jager, aiming to delve deeper into the collaborative efforts against malaria in the SADC region. For more information in the meantime, visit www.malaria.up.ac.za.
