Health experts are asking stakeholders to accelerate the adoption and implementation of digital health innovations in the battle against malaria.
This conclusion was made after reviewing the theme of the 2023 Malaria Day, “Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement.”
The World Health Organisation has also urged the development of high-impact technologies and techniques for malaria prevention, detection, and treatment in vulnerable groups.
During an Insights public health webinar hosted by eHealth Africa, Sierra Leonean medical expert Dr. Dennis Marke emphasised the need of public-private partnerships in fighting malaria through improving access to medical information, communication, and health applications.
Dr. Dennis cited SMS messaging and digital tools like the Solar Power Mosquito Trap and district health information system as examples of mobile-based innovations that have proven effective in laboratory analysis, research, surveillance, and tracking of health interventions, even in remote communities.
While noting the problem of internet connectivity in hard-to-reach regions, he emphasised the importance of proper coordination among digital health partners in order to identify their areas of strength and ensure that all partners work towards the common objective of combating malaria.
Read also: How health tech is changing the game in Africa
How digital innovations help fight malaria
According to the stakeholders, digital innovations play a crucial role in the fight against malaria in several ways.
Digital health tools help improve access to medical information, communication, and health applications, which can aid in issues around malaria control. This includes mobile-based innovations such as SMS messaging, which can help educate populations about the symptoms of malaria and the need for testing.
Secondly, digital tools like the Solar Power Mosquito Trap and district health information systems can be instrumental in laboratory analysis, research, surveillance, and tracking of health interventions, even in remote communities. These tools can help collect and analyze data on malaria cases, which can help health professionals develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Thirdly, digital innovations can also help improve the supply chain of medical equipment and drugs, which is critical in the fight against malaria. For example, during the 2017 mass campaign in Sierra Leone, the Rocket Pro mobile application was used to track the supply of medical equipment and drugs at peripheral health units.
Finally, they asserted that digital innovations can help strengthen public-private partnerships and coordination in delivering digital health interventions which can be achieved through effective mapping of digital health partners to identify their areas of strength and ensure all partners work towards achieving the overall goal of fighting against malaria.
Global Data on Malaria
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female mosquitoes.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were an estimated 229 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2019, with 94% of cases occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO also estimates that there were 409,000 malaria deaths globally in 2019, with children under the age of 5 being the most vulnerable group.
Malaria is a major public health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is a leading cause of illness and death. However, significant progress has been made in recent years, with the number of malaria cases and deaths declining steadily since 2010. The use of insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) have been critical in this progress.
Despite these gains, much more needs to be done to eliminate malaria. The WHO has set an ambitious target of reducing malaria cases and deaths by at least 90% by 2030 and eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030. Achieving this target will require a concerted effort from governments, civil society, and the private sector to scale up interventions and invest in research and development of new tools and strategies.