The World Health Organization is launching a new strategy to respond to the urgent problem of antimalarial drug resistance in Africa. The strategy is being released during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, a global annual campaign to improve awareness of the growing threat of resistance to antibiotics and other medicines.
The new WHO strategy builds on lessons learned from past global plans and complements existing strategies, including broader efforts to respond to antimicrobial resistance. It aims to minimize the threat and impact of antimalarial drug resistance in Africa through 4 pillars:
- strengthen surveillance of antimalarial drug efficacy and resistance;
- optimize and better regulate the use of diagnostics and therapeutics to limit drug pressure through pre-emptive measures;
- react to resistance by limiting the spread of antimalarial drug-resistant parasites;
- stimulate research and innovation to better leverage existing tools and to develop new tools against antimalarial drug resistance.
The strategy’s 20 recommended interventions include, for example, generating standardized data on drug efficacy, promoting equitable access to quality diagnostics and drugs, ensuring optimal vector control coverage in priority areas, and developing innovative tools to limit malaria infection and transmission. Interventions should be tailored to the local context, with the support of global and regional stakeholders.
