UGANDA MALARIA SURVEILLANCE PROJECT

Background

• In 2001, the Uganda Malaria Surveillance Project (UMSP) was formed, linking academic researchers at MU-UCSF with the Uganda Ministry of Health.
• Since 2002, UMSP has conducted trials of antimalarial treatment at seven diverse sentinel sites around Uganda.
• Our studies have led to over 20 publications and have impacted on the management of malaria in Africa.
• UMSP is linked with several partners in a region-wide malaria surveillance and control effort. The collaborating partners include:
    - Uganda Ministry of Health / National Malaria Control Programme
    - MU-UCSF MALARIA Research Collaboration
    - Makerere University School of Public Health
    - UC Berkeley School of Public Health
    - London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
    - Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
    - Malaria Consortium Uganda
    - Infectious Disease Institute

 

Goals

1. To build and implement a multi-site surveillance system in Uganda to evaluate:

   a. Efficacy of available and new antimalarial therapies

   b. Potential antimalarial-related adverse events

   c. Malaria-associated morbidity and mortality

   d. Pharmacovigilance of antimalarial drugs

2. To build capacity through training and strengthening of infrastructure
3. To integrate results of research into policy by linking researchers, policy-makers, and districts
4. To create a sustainable network of research activities and contribute to malaria control in Uganda

 

Accomplishments

• Established a network of researchers and key stakeholders in malaria control in Uganda
• Established a formal link with the Uganda Ministry of Health Malaria Control Program to enable evidence-based national policy on antimalarial recommendations
• Conducted state-of-the-art research on malaria, creating an impressive publication list and influencing antimalarial drug policy in Africa
    - Efficacy of antimalarial therapies and monitoring adverse events
    - MPharmacovigilance of antimalarial adverse events
    - Malaria HIV interaction studies
    - Surveillance of malaria-associated morbidity and mortality at health facilities.

• Prioritized training of public health leaders in Uganda
    - Sponsored masters-level training of students in public health in Kampala and Berkeley
    - Sponsored short-term intensive training of study team members for each sentinel site
    - Trained Ugandan and foreign students and young researchers in malaria research and control, providing opportunities for international exposure and cross-cultural exchange
    - Sponsored training in information technology, data management, and analysis

• Built capacity for laboratory diagnosis and molecular studies of malaria in Uganda.

 

Strengths

• Unique Composition allows for demand driven research that feeds directly into policy
• Access to sentinel sites all-over the country which allows us to maintain contact at the community level