UNAM and UCSF Global Health Group sponsor first ever Namibia Malaria Elimination Symposium
On August 18, the first Namibia Malaria Elimination Symposium was held at the University of Namibia (UNAM), hosted by the newly-formed Namibia Malaria Elimination Research Partnership, which includes partners from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Global Health Group Malaria Elimination Initiative, UNAM , the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), the Clinton Health Access Initiative, the University of Southampton, and the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development.
The Hon. Minister Dr. Richard Kamwi delivered the keynote address to over 50 attendees, including UNAM students, representatives from several consulates, United Nations agencies, the private sector, and community organizations. Speakers from the UCSF Global Health Group, the Namibia National Vector-borne Diseases Control Program, LSHTM, UNAM, and the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development presented on a range of malaria elimination topics including: the global perspective on malaria elimination, current progress toward Namibia’s malaria elimination goal, risk mapping for northern Namibia, innovative molecular diagnostics for malaria, and enhanced vector control.
The symposium marked the kick-off of enhanced efforts to eliminate malaria in Namibia led by the Namibia Malaria Elimination Research Partnership, which will conduct research on new strategies and interventions to more efficiently detect and eliminate pockets of persistent malaria transmission in the Zambezi region of northeastern Namibia.
Watch the Africa One coverage of the symposium.