4 days ago
UAE and WHO Collaborate to Launch Database to Combat Malaria in 18 Countries
The Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), under Erth Zayed Philanthropies, has launched a new initiative to help eliminate malaria and prevent its return in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Fully funded by GLIDE, the project aims to build a comprehensive electronic database analyzing national data from 18 countries across the region. The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the University of Oxford, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and the WHO Global Malaria Programme.
Led by WHO's entomology and vector control unit for the Eastern Mediterranean, the project will gather and map historical and current data on malaria transmission, with a strong focus on environmental factors and mosquito breeding patterns—particularly those of the Anopheles mosquito.
Dr. Farida Al Hosani, Deputy CEO of GLIDE, said the platform will support risk mapping, regional capacity-building, and evidence-based strategies to maintain malaria-free status across the region. She added that the system will help tailor interventions to national contexts and guide better resource allocation.
The database will incorporate entomological surveillance, climate data, and environmental conditions such as rainfall, temperature, and land cover to pinpoint areas at risk of resurgence.
Expected to be completed by July 2025, the platform will cover countries in both the EMRO and AFRO WHO regions. While most of the included countries are currently free of malaria, the ongoing presence of vectors and increased human mobility keep the threat of reintroduction alive.
Looking ahead, Dr. Al Hosani noted that the platform may be expanded to include other vector-borne diseases, strengthening regional health surveillance and response strategies.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
