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MEETING: Enhancing malaria control through climate data integration

Jan. 30, 2025 12:30
MEETING: Enhancing malaria control through climate data integration
Dr. Samson Kiware, Principal Research Scientist at Ifakara Health Institute, presenting during the Technical Meeting on Climate Change and Health Data Integration in Arusha, January 27-28, 2025. Photo: Eric Chingalo, HISP-Tanzania.

In the fight against malaria, a mosquito-borne disease affecting millions, the integration of climate data into health systems has emerged as a potentially transformative strategy. In Arusha, Tanzania, a pivotal meeting was convened by the Ministry of Health with support from the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) on January 27-28, 2025. 

The challenge of fragmented data

Malaria control programs are currently hindered by the fragmentation of climatic data sources such as Map-Room and ERA5. This fragmentation complicates the ability to draw clear connections between weather patterns and malaria outbreaks. 

Without a unified data approach, timely and effective responses to potential outbreaks are compromised, leading to higher malaria incidences and less efficient use of resources.

The solution: Integration into DHIS2

The proposed solution involves integrating these disparate climatic datasets into the District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2). DHIS2 is a robust platform designed for health data management, used widely across Africa to track and analyze health metrics. 

By merging climate data with health data within DHIS2, it would be possible to conduct a more thorough analysis of how climate affects malaria, improve early warning systems, strategically plan interventions, and optimize resource distribution across areas most at risk.

Stakeholders and collaboration

This meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders. Representatives from the National Malaria Control Program provided epidemiological insights, while the Ifakara Health Institute offered research perspectives on health systems. 

The University of Dar es Salaam contributed academic rigor, and the Health Information System Program (HISP) gave technical support for DHIS2. The Tanzania Meteorological Authority supplied the necessary climate data, and the African Leaders ALMA offered strategic guidance. Additionally, local Regional and Council Health Management Teams were present for practical implementation insights.

Objectives of the meeting

The objectives of the meeting were clear: to review the availability and accessibility of climate, mosquito, and disease data; to discuss the technical requirements for data integration into DHIS2; and to identify and solve integration challenges. 

Expected outcomes

The expected outcomes of this initiative are profound. The aim is to establish a system where health and climate data work synergistically to enhance surveillance for malaria. This integration would lead to a more responsive system capable of predicting outbreaks, preparing for climate-related malaria surges, and providing a model for other African countries to follow in integrating climate data into their health management systems.