Developing a novel assessment tool for entering the malaria elimination phase in the Greater Mekong Subregion

Countries in the Greater Mekong subregion of Southeast Asia have committed to eliminating malaria by 2030. Changing a malaria program from “control” to “elimination” is a complex process that needs to consider health system readiness. Currently, a validated assessment tool(s) inclusive of all domains of a health system is still lacking in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Objective

This project assesses an area’s readiness to enter the malaria elimination phase according to local health system requirements. It identifies gaps that must be addressed to achieve zero local transmission of the disease.

Timeline

2023–2025.

Approach

This research program will include qualitative research with key stakeholders and personnel within national malaria control programs to explore their perspectives on the implementation of malaria elimination activities.

The findings of qualitative research will guide the development of an assessment tool to evaluate the health system’s readiness to enter the malaria elimination phase. This will then be validated to evaluate validity, reliability and practical usage. 

Community impact

Findings from this project will provide a better understanding of how malaria elimination strategies are being implemented in the Greater Mekong Subregion, including their challenges and bottlenecks. Moreover, the assessment tool will help policy makers and program managers to evaluate the health system’s readiness for malaria elimination programs.

Ultimately, findings from this study will identify gaps in current health systems that will need to be addressed to: