September 2016 - The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Uganda hosted the inaugural Malaria Surveillance, Monitoring, & Evaluation – Operational Research (SM&E-OR) Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting.

The purpose of the meeting was to redefine  the role of the TWG in accelerating malaria reduction in Uganda and incorporating research and surveillance into the existing M&E TWG. The SM&E-OR TWG is comprised of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) of the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Uganda, World Health Organization (WHO), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Malaria Consortium, Makerere University School of Public Health (MUSPH), African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

The TWG noted the need to synchronize Research and Surveillance with M&E in order to get the reality of Malaria situation and action required in the country. The TWG also stressed the need to take advantage of the data quality improvement project in MoH, highlighting the need for regions and districts to access, analyze and use malaria data to improve response. The TWG further highlighted the need for regional meetings to engage and ensure that the regions and the districts develop and own malaria plans with clear targets as part of SM&E-OR in Malaria.

At the start of 2016, the NMCP with support from partners commissioned the Malaria Bulletin which is a document that highlights trends of Malaria in Uganda. It also informs the NMCP and partners of which interventions to employ in the different regions affected by the disease.

During the TWG meeting, MUSPH shared the results from the assessment of the last bulletin calling on the TWG to prioritize interventions in the non-traditional districts where malaria is on the rise. Also, the NMCP/SME-OR Unit provided preliminary findings from the on-going WHO/DFID-supported Malaria Surveillance M&E-OR System Assessment to situate surveillance as a core intervention in Uganda in line with Global and Regional strategies. The NMCP also provided a  brief update on the planned mass Long Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) distribution.

The WHO Country Rep, Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, also attended the meeting and in his closing remarks congratulated the NMCP on the milestones achieved especially great coordination of partners. He also committed WHO’s support to the National Malaria Control Program.