Improving malaria diagnostics-Worldwide e-Learning Course on Malaria Microscopy – Amref Health Africa

Malaria remains a major global public health problem worldwide with 3.2 billion people at risk of infection annually. Malaria is a leading cause of illness and death in many low-income countries. Quality malaria diagnosis and treatment, and effective use of resources, are major pillars in achieving the ultimate goal of malaria elimination. The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends confirmation before treatment in all cases of malaria, including children less than 5 years of age. Microscopy-based diagnosis of malaria remains the accepted clinical standard for parasite detection, species identification and quantitation, severe and complicated malaria management, assessment of therapeutic efficacy of anti-malarial drugs, and detection of other blood parasites causing fever.

The Worldwide e-Learning Course on Malaria Microscopy is a self-instructional learning programme for those wishing to strengthen their skills in the laboratory diagnosis of malaria. The course is not intended to replace formal classroom instruction, but provides basic information and practice for learners when classroom instruction is not available, and helps to prepare for classroom-based courses. The course utilises virtual microscopy consistent with WHO standards and was developed by representatives from WHO AFRO, Global Good Fund/Intellectual Ventures Laboratory (GG/IVL), Ministry of Health Kenya, University of Nairobi, USAMRD-K, the Australian Army Malaria Institute, Amref Health Africa in Kenya and Tanzania, a consultant parasitologist (retired CDC), the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) Peru, and the Asian Collaborative Training Network for Malaria (ACTMalaria) in the Philippines.