Since 2014, over two billion ITNs were distributed globally. Since their introductions, studies have found that ITNs are effective in averting malaria cases and deaths, making them one of the cost-effective preventative measures ever created in malaria history. With the proven impact, donors and multilateral organizations poured in investments for global scale-up, making them public goods, accessible by all people affected by malaria. What accompanied these global roll-outs are the threats, biological threats such as insecticidal treated nets, and non-biological threats such as human adoption. Biological challenges are equally important as non-biological ones in order to keep ITNs effective. Studies with representative samples consistently show tapering off of net distribution, net ownership by household, net ownership by the individual, and consistent use of nets. In low transmission settings, particularly in Asia Pacific region, countries are adopting more targeted distribution strategies rather than blanketed approach, potentially leaving some population uncovered. Additionally, ITNs are showing varying degrees of durability and bio efficacy in the field. In this webinar, we will approach following questions around non-biological threats to effectiveness of ITNs and ways to mitigate them.

Speakers

Dr Khin Mon Mon, M.B.B. S; M.Med.Sc (Preventive & Tropical Medicine) Senior Technical Director, URC-Defeat Malaria, Myanmar worked previously under Department of Health, Ministry of Health in Myanmar from 1978 to 2011, as a Medical Officer in hospitals and Maternal and Child Health for 7 years and the rest of her service was in Vector Borne Diseases Control (VBDC) as a Team Leader in States/ Regions, as a Programme Manager of Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (2000-2007), as Programme Manager of Malaria and retired as Director (Malaria) in 2011. During her time in VBDC she had attended the trainings and meetings on all vector borne diseases including training on Communication for Behavioral Impact (COMBI) by WHO. After retirement, working as a Free Lance Consultant (VBDC) and she has been keeping in touch with successive Programme Managers and has assisted the National VBDC programme as a core-member of Technical Strategic Group (TSG) (Malaria) and National Task Force for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis. During her consultancy period she has been working with WHO, the National and International NGOs for development of guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures, IEC materials on malaria, LF and Dengue. She also conducted as a facilitator for trainings on malaria for the staffs of VBDC, private sectors and INGOs. She has been working with URC- Defeat Malaria as Senior Technical Director at Yangon, Myanmar since June 2020.

Dr Hannah Koenker, PhD, MPH is the Technical Director at Tropical Health LLP. Her work has focused on design and implementation of monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning for malaria programmes using both quantitative and qualitative methods to answer key operational questions. She has a PhD in Epidemiology from the SwissTPH at the University of Basel, Switzerland. Her work has contributed to global policy on insecticide-treated net distribution and use. Her research focuses on appropriate quantification for ITN distribution through multiple channels, and on issues related to ITN use, including durability, net care, user preferences, behaviour change, and household decision-making and prioritization. As Project Director of PMI VectorWorks (2014-2019), she designed and developed www.itnuse.org, which summarizes trends in ITN use over time, and www.cdtoolkit.org, an online toolkit for planning continuous distribution of ITNs.

Angus Spiers, M.Sc, PhD, Director of Innovation to Impact (I2I), UK has worked for almost 20 years planning, developing and implementing malaria and child health programs throughout Africa and SE Asia. His work has taken him from emergency response in Sierra Leone, Liberia latterly to Angola, where he led the establishment of the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) in country before joining UNICEF as a Regional Malaria Advisor in Kenya. He later moved to Population Services International (PSI) where, as Deputy Director of the Malaria and Child Survival department, played a leading role in diversifying PSI’s malaria portfolio to integrate broader child health issues through public and private channels. Angus currently leads the Innovation to Impact (I2I) program which was established to streamline access to new vector control tools. Since its inception, i2i has worked closely with WHO prequalification and other vector control stakeholders and is now focused on improving vector control data collection and country access to new tools. Angus has an MSc in Tropical Parasitology and PhD in Malaria Vector Biology from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

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