The Ifakara Health Institute is proud to be a part of the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Technical Working Group (ZMETWG), having attended the inaugural meeting on 25–26 November 2025, the meeting was organized by the Ministry of Health of Zanzibar, through the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program (ZAMEP), with support from the Malaria Elimination in Zanzibar (MEZA). 

The two-day meeting brought together health experts, program managers, and technical stakeholders to review progress, share lessons, and discuss strategies toward malaria elimination in Zanzibar.

A team of experts from Ifakara Health Institute consisting of Prof. Nicodem Govella, Sosthenes Ketende, and Dr. Samson Kiware participated, providing technical support to ZAMEP and contributing to ongoing efforts to eliminate malaria in Zanzibar.

The two-day meeting featured sessions on malaria surveillance, case management, diagnostics, advocacy, and vector control, with participants exchanging insights and recommendations to strengthen malaria elimination efforts. Lessons from previous malaria surges and comparative analyses of interventions in Unguja and Pemba were discussed, guiding evidence-based strategies for sustained impact.

Updates were presented by the Malaria Surveillance and Response, Diagnostics, Treatment, Social and Behavior Change, and Vector Control units, highlighting trends in malaria cases, testing, case management, community engagement, and entomological monitoring. Participants discussed challenges, shared experiences, and offered recommendations, drawing lessons from past malaria surges and reviewing interventions in Kaskazini ‘A’ District.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of integrating surveillance and entomological data to guide targeted interventions across Unguja and Pemba. The working group concluded by formalizing resolutions and recommendations, underscoring the critical role of collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and sustained community engagement in advancing Zanzibar’s malaria elimination goals.