Today, the "Visual Analysis of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets to Maximize Universal Access" (ViALLIN) project at the Ifakara Health Institute convened stakeholders to discuss strategies for the effective distribution and monitoring of bed nets in Tanzania. 

The workshop addressed regional differences and challenges to ensure that bed net programs are scientifically sound and operationally effective.

The ViALLIN project aims to develop a digital data collection app, also named 'ViALLIN,' to help Tanzania's national malaria control programs improve the planning, distribution, and monitoring of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). The app will assist in tracking the quality of LLINs and selecting the most suitable products based on contextual factors.

Opening Remarks
Dr. Honorati Masanja, the Ifakara Chief Executive Director, opened the workshop, thanking participants from key institutions including the Ministry of Health, President's Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), USAID, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Population Services International (PSI), Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute for attending this important session.

Setting the Context
The workshop began with a presentation by SwissTPH’s Dr. Sijenunu Aaron on the malaria burden across various regions and their councils in Tanzania. The data, collected from 2018 to 2022, provided insights into regional disparities and highlighted trends over the years.

Government efforts, challenges, and way forward
Mr. Dismasi Mwalimu, Head of the Vector Control Unit at the Ministry of Health, presented the ministry’s 2025 plan for insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and outlined the challenges faced in 2024. Some of the key strategies highlighted were mass distribution campaigns using schools as distribution points for nets, allowing students to bring them home for family use.

He noted challenges with the durability of the nets, which are supposed to last for three years, but local data suggests they often degrade sooner. As a result, the ministry is considering launching campaigns every two years instead of every three. Another challenge discussed was the gap between access and usage. The ministry aims to increase access to 80% which is currently 71% of the population by 2025 and is also monitoring insecticide resistance.

In 2025, Tanzania plans to shift from standard ITNs to nets treated with more advanced ones (PBO and dual-active ingredients (AI)) to combat resistance. The ministry also emphasized the need for stronger social and behavioral change communication (SBCC) efforts to improve net care and usage.

Using AI for testing bed net durability
Emmanuel Mbuba, Project Leader and Coordinator of the ViALLIN project, presented the Bed Net Durability Study's plans and current progress. He explained that the ViALLIN app which uses artificial intelligence (AI) will enable researchers to collect images of LLINs and measure their durability by analyzing the hole surface area. 

This data will be combined with household and user characteristics to predict LLIN coverage for the following year, helping to optimize the planning and distribution of nets. The study is being conducted in Tandahimba, Chalinze, Ulanga, and Magu councils in Tanzania.

A technology with many benefits
The workshop concluded with key recommendations to enhance bed net programs in Tanzania, focusing on data-driven decision-making, improved distribution strategies, and ongoing monitoring of LLIN durability and insecticide resistance.

Participants agreed that integrating AI technology offers numerous advantages. It significantly reduces the time needed to inspect nets and manually count holes, as users simply need to capture images with a phone. This method increases the number of data points collected, allowing one person to examine more nets in a shorter period, leading to more accurate predictions.

Ultimately, the data collected will be valuable for informing various bed net distribution and malaria control programs. Additionally, it can provide insights for manufacturers on how to further improve their products.