News Room A groundbreaking partnership between the Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria is set to amplify the voices of community health workers in the global fight against malaria. The collaboration seeks to bridge the gap between policy and practice by integrating local knowledge into strategies aimed at eradicating the disease.
Malaria remains a formidable global health challenge, disproportionately affecting communities in Africa and Asia. Despite notable progress, persistent transmission hotspots and strained health systems highlight the need for innovative approaches. This partnership prioritises the expertise of health workers who confront these challenges daily, harnessing their insights to tackle the root causes of transmission and barriers to effective intervention.
Through TGLF’s flagship initiative, Teach to Reach, the partnership engages over 60,000 health professionals from more than 80 countries—80% of whom operate at the district and facility levels. These frontline workers are uniquely positioned to provide critical, real-world perspectives on the nuances of malaria control within their communities.
The upcoming Teach to Reach 11 conference on 5–6 December 2024 will focus on the experiences of health workers in high-transmission regions, culminating in a Malaria Special Event on 10 December 2024. Insights shared during these events will shape global malaria elimination efforts, ensuring they reflect the realities of those on the frontlines.
Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, stressed the importance of local leadership: “To end malaria, we must empower the people closest to the problem—health workers in affected communities. This partnership with TGLF allows us to listen to and learn from those on the frontlines of malaria control, ensuring that their voices drive our global strategies and actions towards elimination.”
Reda Sadki, Executive Director of The Geneva Learning Foundation, echoed this sentiment: “We need new ways to learn and lead. Health worker leadership is critical to an integrated view of malaria response by and for local communities. By collaborating directly with national malaria programmes and RBM country teams, we ensure that the knowledge and leadership of health workers underpin effective, equitable, and locally-driven action to eliminate this disease.”
This collaboration underscores the critical role of community-based health workers in achieving global health targets, marking a significant step towards malaria elimination driven by local solutions.
