We cannot reflect on the theme of World Malaria Day, “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives,” without thinking about the role of data. For many years, timely, high-quality data on where, when, and who malaria strikes has been lacking, particularly in countries and communities with the highest burdens. This has allowed malaria to maintain its hold. The situation is, however, changing with the availability of relevant and timely data.

The 2021 World Malaria report for instance presented relevant information that there were an estimated 241 million malaria cases in 2020, with up to 95% of cases in Africa alone. The staggering data is a wake-up call to increase investments in organisations, especially youth-led groups working on mapping malaria’s burden down to the community level and in real-time, enabling malaria programmes to better identify the location, timing and tools needed to fight malaria.

The African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) is one of the leading organisations using data to support malaria eradication. The intergovernmental organisation is dedicated to ending malaria deaths by 2030 and is working to deploy data-driven approaches to save lives. ALMA is actively using data to support national governments to make informed decisions about malaria interventions and to target their limited resources towards areas where the burden of malaria is highest.

Using scorecards to strengthen country data systems

The ALMA approach uses scorecards as data to inform action at the country level. This works by integrating data from different sources into scorecards to support countries in specific activities such as tracking national and sub-national performance on malaria. The ALMA Scorecard Hub provides a platform where all citizens have access to the data they need to ask the relevant questions and hold duty bearers accountable.

It is important to increase investment in the scorecard as it helps to identify bottlenecks in the fight against malaria and drive an impactful response at the community, national and global levels.

Zeinbou Tina Ide (Central African Co-Lead, ALMA Youth Advisory Council)

We need to prioritise the use of data tools to accelerate real time progress on malaria elimination targets in several communities that have high malaria burden cases.

Mathews Mulenga (Assistant Coordinator, ALMA Malaria Youth Champions, Zambia)

Strengthening global commitments helps strengthen data-driven malaria institutions. At the local level countries must commit to capacitate young people in contributing to generating national data on malaria (especially in endemic populations), increased surveillance on the quality of  available diagnostic tools, antimalarials and use of the updated national treatment guidelines. Malaria can truly be controlled and eliminated in Africa, but there is a need for multi-sectoral collaboration between government, private stakeholders and communities in generating data that will help in the implementation of targeted intervention across country,  regional and continental levels.

Authors

Richard Dzikunu
Richard Dzikunu is a United Nations award-winning professional with a track record for influencing adolescent health policy and proven strategic communications, grassroots mobilization, coordination, and advocacy skills. He has over five years of professional experience leading successful youth-focused national and international campaigns. Since 2018, Richard has worked with youth groups to develop strategies that integrate digital technologies and data for Universal Health Coverage advocacy. He currently serves as the Diaspora Lead, at the ALMA Youth Advisory Council.

Odinaka Kingsley Obeta
Odinaka Kingsley Obeta is the executive director at Block Malaria Africa Initiative a malaria intervention initiative based in Nigeria with focus on improving the level of sensitization on malaria in communities through advocacy and community health outreaches with the aim of combating malaria amongst most-at-risk population across Nigeria, he is also a licensed and practicing Medical Laboratory Scientist working with the Jos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Odinaka currently serves as the West African lead, at the ALMA Youth Advisory Council.