Revolutionizing malaria prevention at UNGA 2024

Photo Credit: RBM Partnership to End Malaria

IVCC staff had the opportunity to attend this week’s UNGA and participated in several important meetings with various stakeholders to discuss the role of vector control in efforts to eliminate malaria. David McGuire, Director of Access and Country engagement participated in a Summit of the Future panel discussion: From Concepts to Communities: Innovations in Action along with representatives from ALMA, RBM and Unitaid. The session explored how a group of partners collaborated to develop, launch and scale-up dual-AI ITNs under the New Nets Project and the Net Transition Initiative. Participants shared lessons learned and how they might be applied to accelerate access to other innovative health products.

David also attended a session co-hosted by United to Beat Malaria and RBM, Next Chapter of Progress: Localization, Innovation and Partnerships to End Malaria. A panel that included senior representatives from ALMA, the Gates Foundation (IVCC BoT member, Philip Welkhoff), PMI, SC Johnson and the Global Fund discussed promising innovations in vector control, treatments and vaccines, and acknowledged the importance of increased domestic and multi-sector investment in locally led research and implementation. Panelists talked about their optimism that a tool-box capable of achieving elimination is on the horizon, and the need for the political will and funding to translate innovation into sustained impact.

Christen Fornadel, Senior Technical Coordinator, attended an important meeting hosted by Malaria No More, RBM and MMV, Racing Against Antimalarial Resistance: Driving Global Action to Support National Response Efforts. There is a growing recognition and effort among partners to improve coordination and integrated approaches that simultaneously address resistance to drugs and insecticides, including market shaping efforts to address the increased costs of new products.

IVCC is encouraged that the challenges, opportunities and critical success factors that have been identified within our new strategy are all prominent and recurring topics that are repeatedly raised by participants from countries, funders, civil society, academia and the private sector.

IVCC’s Board of Trustees Chair, Sherwin Charles and Board member, Elizabeth Chizema are also attending UNGA 2024.