Background – Elimination in the Asia Pacific

1960s and 70s - Several countries in Asia Pacific Region achieved and have since maintained a malaria free status, including: Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, and Taiwan

However, malaria remains a major problem for large parts of the Region

Fortunately, the last decade has seen a renewed commitment to malaria control

As a result of intensified control efforts and improving socioeconomic conditions, many countries in the Asia Pacific Region have made great strides and are now moving toward elimination

Remarkable progress made toward malaria elimination in Asia Pacific countries, however efforts under-recognized and under-supported

Limited venues for Asia Pacific countries and institutions to interact on issues pertaining to malaria elimination

Development of the Network in 2008 Leadership of Sir Richard Feachem UCSF Global Health Group (GHG) University of Queensland AusAID WHO SEARO and WPRO

Announcement of the Inaugural Meeting made by the then Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the September 2008 United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York

Concept and Development of APMEN

Inaugural Member Countries

Country Partners

BhutanChina

Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaIndonesiaMalaysia

PhilippinesRepublic of KoreaSolomon Islands

Sri LankaVanuatu

Other countries to be included as progress toward elimination is made.

APMEN Academic and Multilateral Agencies Partner Institutions

Partner InstitutionsACTMalariaArmed Forces Research Institute for Medical Science (AFRIMS) AusAIDAustralian Army Malaria Institute (AAMI)Bill and Melinda Gates FoundationBurnet InstituteCenters for Disease Control, AtlantaEijkman-Oxford Clinical Research Unit, IndonesiaInstitute of Medical Research, Papua New GuineaKarolinska InstitutetMalaria Atlas Project (MAP)Menzies School of Health ResearchMalaria Elimination Group (MEG) Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)Pacific Malaria Initiative Support Centre (PacMISC)Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Philippines

Roll Back Malaria (RBM)UNICEFUSAID, Regional Development Mission/AsiaUniversity of Melbourne (Nossal Institute for Global Health)WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN)

WHO PartnersSEAROWPROGlobal Malaria Programme (GMP)

APMEN Joint-SecretariatSchool of Population Health, University of QueenslandGlobal Health Group, University of California, San Francisco

Inaugural MeetingBrisbane, February 8-11, 2009

Exploring possibilities and agreeing on a common goal

Inaugural Meeting

Brisbane, Australia, February 8-11, 2009 Co-hosted by GHG in partnership with University of Queensland,

AusAID, and in close collaboration with WHO Shared successes and challenges

Country Updates on progress toward elimination Presentations on core challenges for elimination – vivax

diagnostics and treatment, M&E, surveillance, mapping, vector control

Established core objectives and identified work stream initiatives for the Network

Australian government’s commitment to the Network was underscored in the opening address given by Bob McMullan, Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance

Funding Secured November 2009

AusAID funding for APMEN announced by Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Health and Ageing during a meeting with Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO). 16/11/2009

Global Health Group component funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Dr. Maxine Whittaker component supported by University of Queensland

Cost sharing for attendance at APMEN II requested of and provided by various Partner Institutions

First APMEN work plan for 2010 approved in June 2010

APMEN IIKandy, Sri Lanka, February 16-19, 2010

Laying the foundation for the Network – commencing activities

APMEN II

Kandy, Sri Lanka, February 16-19, 2010

Hosted by Sri Lankan Ministry of Health and APMEN

Key achievements Of APMEN II meeting Shared successes and challenges

– Country Updates on progress toward elimination– Presentations on core challenges for elimination – vivax diagnostics

and treatment, M&E, surveillance, mapping, vector control

Established core objectives and identified work stream initiatives for the Network

Information Sharing Website • Translation • Annual Meetings and Study tours • Supporting others and Sharing Information

Share information and develop expert consensus on issues relating to malaria elimination, in order to support policy and

decision making at the country level

2010 Progress – Information Sharing

APMEN II meeting held in Kandy, Sri Lanka, included Vivax and Vector working

group meetings and a study tour

www.apmen.org re branded and re structured is now providing a means of

communication among APMEN and with the larger malaria community, as well as

links to relevant country and regional resources

Permanent website now hosted by UQ Secretariat

Total of 2600 Visitors to the website since its re launch in March, 2010 with a total

of 10243 page visits

National strategic plans from APMEN countries have been collected from some

network countries to be shared with others and help inform development of

guidelines

Building the Evidence BaseCase studies • Vivax Working Group • Vector Working Group • APMEN Research Grants Program

Support country decision making through building of the evidence base for malaria elimination, with a particular focus on Plasmodium vivax

2010 Progress– Evidence Base

The Vivax Working Group and Vector Control Working Group meetings

took place in conjunction with APMEN II in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Objectives and Terms of Reference for both working groups were

drafted and agreed to by Network

A case study on Sri Lanka’s malaria control and elimination program is

close to finalization

A case study on Jiangsu Province’s use of mass primaquine began

2010 Progress– Evidence Base

Vector Control Working Group commenced survey development

Potential future case studies

Brunei malaria elimination experience

Cross-border collaborations –Bhutan/Assam, China/Myanmar

Use of community health workers for malaria surveillance in remote areas,

Sabah, Malaysia

Research Grant Program: Round one (vivax)

Managed by the Vivax Working Group Coordination Team, operational at

Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia

Launched 25 June 2010

16 pre-proposals submitted for a broad range of short–term operational

research

Support in proposal writing and follow-up for methodological issues provided

by the staff as capacity building activity

14 full proposals received for total of AUD$615,000

Total funding for research grants AUD$340,000 to be awarded in late 2010,

early 2011.

Capacity BuildingAPMEN Fellowship Program and other activities

Increase expertise and capacity to carry out elimination activities through guidance, training, and sharing of experiences

2010 APMEN Fellowship recipients

APMEN Fellowship Program

Fellowship Program Objectives and TOR drafted and agreed to by Network

Fellowship Program launched on World Malaria Day, 2010

10 Fellowship Program applications received from 6 countries (including one

non-APMEN Country Partner application)

5 Fellowships awarded (range of countries, topics and host institutions)

Support in proposal writing, and follow-up for methodological issues provided

by the staff as capacity building activity

Leadership and AdvocacyGenerate awareness • Garner support

Provide leadership and advocacy for malaria elimination in the region by expanding international and domestic awareness,

funding, and support

2010 Progress– Advocacy

APMEN and elimination efforts in the region becoming recognized among malaria

community and publicized in general public

APMEN referred to in 4 publications

Presentations and representation at meetings (MEG, ICOPA, JITMM)

Continued support garnered from major donors, political leaders

Developed APMEN advocacy strategy and work plan

One page brochure developed

Media coverage for annual meeting, Fellowship, Research Grants and Lancet

commentary

Interest from various parties, including new countries (Thailand) and partner institutions

(LSHTM)

Emerging PrioritiesCommunity • Cross Border • others emerging issues

Facilitate support for emerging priorities for malaria elimination especially in the Asia Pacific Regions

2010 Progress– Emerging priorities

Community participation and cross border group discussions at APMEN II

Community forum on ACT Malaria website commenced

Panning for literature review of role of community in elimination underway

Cross-border & regional collaboration assistance provided to Bhutan

Governance and SecretariatCoordination • Management • Funding • Linkages • Planning and Reporting

Provide a governance structure for the Network to support and facilitate efficient and transparent management processes

as well as to enable the effective work of the Network

2010 Progress– Governance and Secretariat

Governance structure drafts reviewed and edited with final

agreement from the network in April

Joint-Secretariat:

UQ and GHG Co-coordinators established

Program manager and officer recruited at UQ Secretariat

1 part time staff hired at the GHG Secretariat

Vivax Working Group Coordinating Team – 3 staff mobilised

Important dates

Key Dates 2011

APMEN III Annual Business and Technical meetingMay 9 – 13, 2011 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

2011 APMEN Research Grant ProgramRound 2 – Vivax

2011 APMEN Fellowship applications open January