Assessing the impact of COVID-19 response on malaria control and malaria burden

The rapid global emergence and spread of COVID-19 is having extensive effects on the health of populations and health systems worldwide and is threatening fragile health systems in many resource-poor countries. When responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to ensure that efforts to control other endemic diseases, such as malaria, are not ignored. Between 2000 and 2015, the massive scale-up of malaria vector control interventions, including long-lasting insecticidal nets, and effective treatment of clinical malaria cases, led to a 50% reduction in malaria cases and deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. There are concerns that tackling COVID-19 will disrupt malaria control efforts, leading to a resurgence in malaria and undermining progress to date.

This project investigates the social and public health response to COVID-19 in Tanzania and assesses the impacts of the pandemic on malaria prevention and control at the community and health system levels. The team will identify gaps in the delivery and uptake of malaria interventions in the context of COVID-19. Real-time data on individual behaviours and the effects on health systems will inform locally adapted malaria control strategies.

This project was selected for funding through the COVID-19 May 2020 Rapid Research Funding Opportunity, coordinated by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in partnership with IDRC and other funders.