FK-KMK UGM. The Graduate Program in Tropical Medicine FK-KMK UGM held an Online Guest Lecture and Kick Off Visiting Professor & Guest Lecturer (VPGL) Grant 2023 Socialization on Monday (26/7) through a zoom meeting.

In this Guest Lecture, Prof. Sylvie Manguin, Ph.D from the University of Montpellier was present as a speaker with the topic “The Importance of Mosquito Biology and Taxonomy in Vector-borne Disease Control: Focus on Malaria Vectors”. She explained that in 2021, 84 malaria endemic-countries reported 247 million malaria cases. “There was an increase of 13.4 million more than in 2019,” she added.

Prof. Sylvie said it was important to actively involve the local population at the village scale in order to achieve high coverage and better control of malaria and its vectors. “There are several global strategies being implemented to deal with malaria cases in APMEN (The Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network) countries,” explained Prof. Sylvie. Strategies that will be carried out include cross-border and regional collaboration to optimize malaria response at international borders, increase knowledge of malaria vector species for efficient vector control programs, as well as responses that are adapted based on interventions and strategies to local conditions.

APMEN is a network of countries and stakeholders, committed to eliminate malaria in Asia Pacific by 2030. APMEN, identified in 2008, has gained credibility for its role as a unique platform for malaria programs and other communicable disease leaders to interact with partner institutions and other stakeholders in malaria elimination. (Reporter: Nirwana)