Unifying Leadership with Science and Technical Expertise

Since 2017, the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA) has hosted the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN), working synergistically to ensure progress towards malaria elimination in the region by 2030. APMEN strengthens national malaria programs by facilitating technical knowledge exchange, identifying and addressing programmatic needs, and building capacity, all of which support APLMA’s high-level political advocacy and policy leadership, driving progress toward malaria elimination by 2030.

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Challenges and Commitment

While tremendous progress has been made in the last two decades, the region now faces multiple challenges, including climate change and the need for sustainable, long-term funding. To prevent the reversal of these gains, it is imperative to address these challenges urgently. APLMA and APMEN are working closely to support the region’s collective malaria response. Together, we prioritize research and innovation, financing and governance, policy and program coordination, and regulatory cooperation to effectively tackle these challenges and sustain progress towards malaria elimination.

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Partnerships and Capacity Building

Coordinated by the APLMA secretariat, APMEN works through partnerships with governments, national malaria programs, academic & research institutes, private sectors, UN agencies, and civil society to generate local evidence and build capacity. Through working groups on Surveillance & Response, Vector Control, and Vivax, and interest groups on climate & environmental change, border malaria, and outdoor transmission, APMEN facilitates technical exchange across stakeholders, delivers technical malaria expertise and research, and shares evidence-based practices for malaria elimination in the region.

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Focus on Vulnerable Communities

Together, we support the efforts of governments to eliminate malaria across the region, focusing on the region’s most vulnerable communities where the burden is highest and the need to redress malaria progress is greatest. Strengthening health policy and uplifting knowledge in these communities and across the region helps beat malaria today and other communicable diseases in the future. Our synergy ensures a comprehensive approach to malaria elimination, addressing both immediate needs and long-term sustainability.

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For more information, please visit APMEN website.

visit APMEN website

History

Chair, APMEN Surveillance & Response Working Group | Chief Scientist on Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Prof. Xiao-Nong Zhou

Professor Xiao-Nong Zhou has been Director of the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases since 2010. He is also serving as Vice Dean, School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.
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Professor Zhou is a leading expert in the research and control of parasitic diseases, with over 40 years' experience by implementation of One Health approaches. He also had long-term cooperation experiences with the international agencies, such as World Health Organization, and has served as member of international expert committees. He has led more than dozens of research projects in
collaboration with multi-institutions at national and international levels. He has been a highly-cited researcher since 2016 due to publication of more than 400 peer review publications in the international journals, including New Engl. J. Med., Nature, Lancet, and Lancet Infect. Dis., etc.Professor Zhou graduated with a PhD from Copenhagen University, Denmark, in 1994. He was awarded National Outstanding Contribution Expert by the Ministry of Health in 2008, the Public Health and Preventive Medicine Development Contribution Award of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association in 2010, and Shanghai Outstanding Academic Leader in 2011, respectively.

Chair of APMEN Vector Control Working Group | Director at Directorate of Malaria Control, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Pakistan

Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar

Dr Muhammad Mukhtar is Director at Directorate of Malaria Control (DoMC), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC), Govt. of Pakistan with prime responsibility of overall management of program including to develop national policy, strategy and guidelines for malaria and other Vector-Borne Diseases Control. He is also national Focal Person for Vector-Borne Diseases; Public Health Pesticides management; Integrated Vector Management (IVM) and for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Currently, he is a member of WHO Prequalification Team (PQT) for Vector Control Products Assessment and also Core Member of Alliance for Malaria Prevention (AMP)-Geneva and RBM Vector Control Working Group -Geneva. He designed and developed a variety of national policy, strategic documents, and guidelines for the Vector-Borne Diseases Control.

Chair of APMEN Vivax Working Group | Former Regional Advisor, Malaria at WHO Regional Office of South-East Asia

Dr. Neena Valecha

Dr Neena Valecha, clinical pharmacologist and malariologist from India is a globally recognized researcher. Dr Valecha has spent over 30 years in malaria research and clinical pharmacology. She worked as Regional Adviser, Malaria at the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region (WHO SEARO) for three and half years. Prior to that, Dr Valecha led the ICMR- National Institute of Malaria Research, the only research institute of India devoted to malaria research, as Director.She has published over 200 papers in international peer-reviewed journals and has served on several national and international committees including Malaria Policy Advisory Committee of WHO. Presently, she is member of Malaria Strategic Advisory Panel (MSAP), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network Vivax Working Group, alternate board member of Roll Back Malaria Partnership, Geneva, member of expert scientific advisory group of Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva. She is Fellow of two science academies in India and has received several prestigious awards including NASI-Prof. V. P. Sharma Memorial Lecture Award 2018 and Dr. M.O.T. Iyengar Memorial Award 2011 of Indian Council of Medial Research (ICMR).

Our key priorities

Leadership for impact

Greater leadership at the regional, national and sub-national level:Keeping malaria elimination high on the agenda through targeted advocacy and communications to drive sustainable change Drive awareness of challenges and opportunities in the region (high burden) via a steady drumbeat of national and regional media (at times global) communications and digital engagement. Leverage key events and milestones (e.g., APLMA high-level meetings in India and Indonesia, engagement of Heads of State and Government at G20, ASEAN, EAS, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting etc.) for targeted communications activities.
Ensure our audiences see the value of how sustainable action and investment in malaria is critical to eliminate malaria by 2030.Collaborate with malaria champions and partner organisations (e.g., RBM, SCPC working groups, WHO) to provide malaria the required regional attention around key milestones (e.g., World Malaria Day, WHO World Malaria Report etc) and ensure global media shine the largest possible spotlight on our region. APLMA is the only voice focused on bringing attention to the status of malaria in the Asia Pacific.

Where are we based

Based in Singapore, APLMA serves as the region's hub for technical advocacy, health diplomacy, and high-level meetings. This focus keeps the momentum high towards achieving our ambitious goal.

What do we do

At APLMA, we provide targeted support to individual countries, raising malaria's profile and advocating for policy changes. By marshaling evidence, policy expertise, and advocacy, we work tirelessly to secure the technical and financial resources needed to finally end malaria in the region.