A two-day virtual training event was held June 29-30, 2021, in support of Africa Malaria Task Force (AMTF) in Naples, Italy.
Hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) Force Medical, participants included speakers and partners in Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, as well as from the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The task force has been characterized by multiple in-person engagements every year since inception, however due to COVID, AMTF has not been able to meet in-person for over a year. This virtual event was a chance to re-invigorate the program and get key leaders from African partner nations and the U.S. interagency back together.
Capt. Peter Woodson, NAVAF force surgeon, in coordination with Médecin Général de Brigade Yao D. N’Dri Athanase from Cote d’Ivoire, AMTF President, provided opening remarks for the event and welcomed both those new to AMTF and those that have helped build the program over the last 10 years.
Key presentations this year included:
- “National malaria control in Senegal: The role of the Army Forces Health Service” from Dr. Maj Mame Cheikh Seck, Professor of Parasitology from Cheikh Anta Diop University
- “Status of Global Health Engagement Research Initiative grant in Ghana and force health protection in the Ghana Armed Forces” from Surgeon Capt. Edward Owusu Nyarko, officer in charge of public health of the military hospital in Accra, Ghana
- “Building the capacity of partner militaries’ malaria control programs in Africa: The role of the Africa Malaria Task Force” from Dr. Samuel K. Dadzie, Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
The AMTF leader engagement provided a platform to synchronize Ministry of Health and Ministry of Defense efforts to address malaria during the COVID-19 pandemic with AMTF member countries and across a broad spectrum of experts in the field.
Adapted from original story by MC2 Kaila Peters, U.S. Naval Forces Africa