LEARN Malaria

The Challenge

Malaria continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality across sub-Saharan Africa. Often overlooked in malaria control programs are the more than 200 million primary school-age children who are at risk of malaria infection and disease. In addition to causing acute illnesses which can progress to hospitalization and severe disease, malaria is a leading cause of health-related school absences and, in many areas, more than 50% of apparently healthy students have chronic malaria infections. These chronic infections are associated with anaemia and inflammation which may impede behavioural and cognitive development ultimately undermining learning potential and human capital development. Furthermore, school-age children serve as the main reservoir of human-to-mosquito transmission perpetuating infections in their communities.

About the Project

The Leveraging Evidence and Advocacy to Reduce the burdeN of malaria in school-age children Network — LEARN Malaria — is a multi-sectoral global network dedicated to reducing the burden of malaria among school-aged children across Africa. It brings together researchers, programme managers, educators, implementing partners, policymakers, and funders under a shared commitment to ensuring malaria prevention and control efforts are more comprehensive and inclusive.

The network aims to improve understanding of the burden of malaria in school-age children and the impact of extending malaria control interventions to school-aged children to promote evidence-based interventions and policy and strengthen programmatic action.

Our strategies & approaches

Strengthen the evidence base

Malaria in school-aged children remains poorly understood and under-investigated. LEARN works to better understand existing evidence and critical gaps, build consensus on research standards ad metrics, and quantifying the health, educational and economic burden of malaria in this age group. Our goal is to ensure that decisions about school-aged children are grounded in the best available evidence.

Build partnerships across sectors

Addressing malaria in school-aged children requires collaboration across malaria, education, school health and related sectors. No single actor can do it alone. LEARN will strengthen relationships with key partners, fostering the coordinated action needed to improve child health. By growing a diverse and active network, we help ensure that efforts are aligned and impactful.

Mobilize knowledge for action

Evidence must reach the people who can act on it. LEARN synthesises and curates knowledge to make it accessible and useful for researchers, implementers and policymakers alike, to inform decision-making processes and implementation practices.

Advance strategic advocacy

Changing policy and financing for integrated policies that ensure child health requires deliberate, sustained advocacy efforts. LEARN will leverage key advocacy opportunities and engage policymakers and champions at all levels to ensure school-aged children are reflected in national guidance, plans and budgets.

Technical Working Groups

TWG 1: Quantify the Burden

The Quantify Burden TWG will strengthen and synthesize evidence on the health, educational, economic, and livelihood burden of malaria in school-aged children.

TWG 2: Measure Intervention Impact

The Measure Intervention Impact TWG will strengthen and synthesise evidence on the individual and community impact of interventions for school-aged children, and support use of that evidence for program decision-making.

TWG 3: Advocacy and Communication

The Advocacy and Communication TWG will strengthen and coordinate messaging that elevates the importance of addressing malaria in school-aged children, and support efforts to influence policy and funding decisions.

TWG 4: Optimise Implementation

The Optimise Implementation TWG will support practical adoption and scale-up of approaches for school-aged children by coordinating technical assistance and cross-country learning.

Our Partners

Contact

Meet our people working within LEARN Malaria 

Membership is open to all researchers, implementers, and policymakers committed to tackling malaria in school-aged children.

Join the LEARN Malaria network here.

Contact our Secretariat for inquiries and collaborations: learn.malaria@lstmed.ac.uk

• Lauren Cohee
• Jessica Amegee Quach
• Jane Rawlinson

Latest updates

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