On the final day of the three-day 2024 Grand Challenges Africa Meeting (GCAM TZ) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, hosted by Ifakara Health Institute and the Gates Foundation, participants had the opportunity to visit various malaria project sites in Ifakara, Bagamoyo, and Zanzibar. 

Global scientific partners working in malaria control and elimination, alongside experts focused on strengthening research development in low-and-middle-income countries, witnessed firsthand the ongoing efforts in vector control and health systems research.

IFAKARA: Vector Control & Health Systems
In Ifakara, participants visited the Lupiro site, where they observed various experimental huts, including East African, West African, Ifakara Tented, and Rapley Huts, all designed for vector control research. 

Afterward, they toured the VectorSphere and the Vector Control Innovation Booth, which highlighted innovations in vector control. The group also explored the Innovation Hub, laboratories, and visited the CDCI and the Heart & Lung Clinic. Later, they toured Mosquito City, a large facility dedicated to mosquito research.

BAGAMOYO: Vector Control & New Tools
In Bagamoyo, the visit began at the Kibaha Biolarvicide Plant, where participants examined the production of larvicide for controlling mosquito populations. At the Bagamoyo Office, they toured the Bagamoyo Training Research Center before proceeding to the Vector Control Product Testing Unit, where they learned about the Transmission Zero project aimed at eliminating malaria. 

The visit also included a stop at the laboratory and clinical trials facility, showcasing the latest tools for vector control and disease research.

ZANZIBAR: Vector Control & Multi-Sectoral Engagement
Participants in Zanzibar engaged with representatives from the Zanzibar Ministry of Health and visited several key locations focused on malaria prevention and control. 

At the Raha Leo Health Facility, they attended a presentation on routine net distributions for antenatal care, which targets pregnant women and children at the age of 9 months during measles vaccination. The visit also covered malaria testing procedures and the processes for case notification and investigation. 

Additionally, they visited Lumumba School, where a Malaria Club promotes malaria prevention awareness through social and behavior change communication (SBCC) activities, including drama, performances, and recitations known as "ngonjera."

The participants also visited Cheju Village, known for its rice farming. Here, they observed drone technology being used to map water pools to support malaria control efforts. They also visited the ZAMEP headquarters, which includes parasitology, entomology, and immunomolecular laboratories, along with an insectary, supporting the development, implementation, and monitoring of malaria control interventions across Zanzibar.