Karachi, In a significant public health initiative, The Aga Khan University (AKU) has launched the Malaria Elimination Consortium (MEC), aiming to eradicate malaria in Pakistan by 2035. The consortium’s first hybrid meeting was convened to outline the strategies and goals of the initiative, which will work in tandem with national and provincial health authorities, as well as global health organizations and academic partners.

According to The Aga Khan University, the MEC is set to sign Memorandums of Understanding with provincial and federal governments, focusing on increasing public awareness and rolling out targeted malaria elimination programs over the next decade. The consortium has garnered a wide range of stakeholders, including Pakistan’s Directorate of Malaria Control, the WHO, Oxford University, and funding partners like the GLIDE Foundation in the UAE.

Prof Dr. Asim Beg, the principal investigator of the program, highlighted the World Health Organization’s categorization of malaria as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Pakistan, setting the stage for the MEC’s ambitious elimination timeline. The consortium’s collaborative approach draws upon the expertise of various partners, including Universidade NOVA de Lisbon, which is working with AKU on malaria and COVID-19 research.

The meeting spotlighted Thatta as a model district for the malaria elimination program, with subsequent plans to replicate the efforts in other regions, particularly in Balochistan. The contributions of Zenysis Technologies as a scoping partner for AKU were also recognized.

The initiative by AKU and the MEC has received commendation from GLIDE Foundation CEO Simon Bland, who acknowledged the pivotal support of both federal and provincial governments in this health endeavor.

The MEC’s formation and the collaborative efforts led by AKU represent a proactive step towards addressing one of Pakistan’s major health challenges, aiming to achieve a malaria-free status within the country by 2035.