1-3-7 surveillance and response approach in malaria elimination: China’s practice and global adaptions

Abstract

There has been a significant reduction in malaria morbidity and mortality worldwide from 2000 to 2019. However, the incidence and mortality increased again in 2020 due to the disruption to services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveillance to reduce the burden of malaria, eliminate the disease and prevent its retransmission is, therefore, crucial. The 1-3-7 approach proposed by China has played an important role in eliminating malaria, which has been internationally popularized and adopted in some countries to help eliminate malaria. This review summarizes the experience and lessons of 1-3-7 approach in China and its application in other malaria-endemic countries, so as to provide references for its role in eliminating malaria and preventing retransmission. This approach needs to be tailored and adapted according to the region condition, considering the completion, timeliness and limitation of case-based reactive surveillance and response. It is very important to popularize malaria knowledge, train staff, improve the capacity of health centres and monitor high-risk groups to improve the performance in eliminating settings. After all, remaining vigilance in detecting malaria cases and optimizing surveillance and response systems are critical to achieving and sustaining malaria elimination.

Understanding the China-Tanzania Malaria Control Project: lessons learned from a multi-stakeholder qualitative study

“…The final step involves foci investigation, treatment, and vector control, which should be carried out within seven days. Successful execution of the 1-3-7 strategy hinges on having an ample pool of skilled human resources and robust laboratory testing capabilities ( 12 ).…”

“…Besides integrated strategies in case mangement and vector control, 1,7-mRCTR requires health facilities to report confirmed malaria cases within 24 h and to provide intensive treatment to pandemic villages within 1 week ( 8 ). Comparing with 1-3-7 strategy, 1,7-mRCTR is appropriate for areas with high incidence rates and limited medical resources, with the focuses on treating people in endemic areas at the community level ( 12 ). Subsequently, in order to validate the outcomes of the strategies used in Phase I to guide further evidence-based policy recommendations, Phase II was initiated and expected to scale up the 1,7-mRCTR from two intervention sites to six in Tanzania, with the funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) ( 13 , 14 ).…”

Ethnomedicinal plants used for malaria treatment in Rukungiri District, Western Uganda

“…Malaria has afflicted humanity for millennia [ 1 ]. It is one of the most fatal, preventable and curable parasitic diseases globally, with about 619,000 deaths and 247 million new cases reported in 2021 [ 2 ].…”