It’s World Malaria Day today. Ifakara Health Institute Chief Executive Director, Dr. Honorati Masanja, has issued an official statement on the Day. While focusing on this year’s theme: “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives,” Dr. Masanja expressed commitment to the ultimate goal - malaria elimination - by maintaining this focus through Ifakara's comprehensive approach to research.

“As an Institute, we take pride in the significant progress we have made to control and ultimately eliminate malaria. Over the past year, our team of scientists have conducted research studies on malaria and published more than 45 papers in peer reviewed journals,” reads the statement in part.

Dr. Masanja cites an example of Ifakara contribution in the fight: “Making headlines recently, was a groundbreaking study that followed up 6,700 children after 20 years of being enrolled in the social marketing of bed nets trial. The findings have revealed the long-term benefits of using treated mosquito nets in early childhood and survival to adulthood.”

He says, Ifakara impact on the public health sector has brought substantial progress in malaria control efforts such as the groundbreaking malaria vaccine “RTS, S/ASO1” which has now been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for children at risk.

Dr. Masanja also underlines multisectoral partnerships in achieving significant strides towards the shared goal of malaria elimination. “We value our partners and collaborators who have advanced our work in malaria research, both at the local level and global stage,” he says.

Read the statement: #MalariaDay2022: Together, we can #FightForWhatCounts to #EndMalaria