This summer, IVCC partnered with Malaria No More UK and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) Ghana to host a visit by three UK Members of Parliament. The delegation, Wendy Chamberlain MP, Tan Dhesi MP, and Kim Johnson MP, travelled to Accra to see firsthand how UK-supported partnerships are driving progress against malaria.
The visit aimed to showcase the role of Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) such as IVCC in accelerating access to innovative tools, and to underline the importance of sustained global investment from partners including the Global Fund and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. It also provided a platform to strengthen dialogue between UK parliamentarians and Ghanaian stakeholders committed to malaria elimination.
During several days of engagements in Accra, the delegation:
- toured the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), one of Africa’s leading public health research centres;
- visited facilities of industry partner Vestergaard to learn about the development and production of next-generation mosquito control tools;
- met with community health volunteers in Jamestown, supported by Hope for Future Generations (HFFG). In a lively exchange, the volunteers explained how they support their communities through malaria diagnosis using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), treatment of uncomplicated cases, distribution of preventive measures such as mosquito nets, and referral of complex cases to clinics. MPs and delegates had the opportunity to hear directly about the challenges and impact of this work, which is vital for malaria control, especially in rural areas where access to formal health services is limited. Sustaining and expanding the role of Community Health Workers requires strong community links, ongoing training and supervision, adequate funding, and integration with national health systems;
- visited a health clinic in northern Accra, where MPs saw how mothers bringing their babies for routine check-ups were also provided with insecticide-treated nets to protect their households. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the complexity of the development pipeline and the level of innovation required to bring new malaria control products to market. Developing a new public health insecticide is a decade-long process that can cost hundreds of millions of dollars, requiring substantial investment in research and development, field testing, and regulatory approval;
- held discussions with the Ghana Health Select Committee, the Minister of Health, and the British High Commission in Accra.
These site visits and conversations highlighted the tangible impact of UK–Ghana partnerships in tackling insecticide resistance, strengthening health systems, and protecting vulnerable communities from malaria. They also demonstrated how UK investment in research and global health partnerships contributes to sustainable progress in malaria control and elimination.
IVCC extends its sincere thanks to NMEP, the Ghana Health Service, and the Ministry of Health for their central role in organising, hosting, and facilitating the delegation, and to Malaria No More UK for their leadership in engaging parliamentarians.
