GLIDE CEO comments on launch of the new Institute for Malaria and Climate Change

17 January 2022 – In response to today’s announcement regarding the launch of Forecasting Healthy Futures (FHF), a coalition of global health, technology, and public sector partners, and the subsequent establishment of the Institute for Malaria and Climate Solutions (IMACS) by the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi and Malaria No More, Simon Bland, CEO of the Global Institute for Disease Elimination, comments:

“Climate change brings new urgency in our drive to eliminate malaria, as warming weather patterns drive potentially devastating health impacts like the spread of malaria and other vector-borne diseases. FHF and IMACS is a terrific example of the kind of innovation we need if we want to stay ahead of the game.

“We currently know very little about how climate change affects malaria transmission, but the impact could be huge. Warmer climates and increased deforestation could drastically increase mosquito breeding grounds, meaning more vectors transporting deadly diseases across borders. At worst, it could push back by reintroducing malaria in tropical and temperate countries that have eliminated the disease.

“IMACS is well-positioned to harness weather data, AI, and data analytics to allow for timely insights so disease elimination programmes can know what interventions are needed, when and where. GLIDE welcomes the leadership from the CPC, the Government of India and Malaria No More and congratulates their efforts to employ Artificial Intelligence and climate data to stamp out malaria for good.  Disease elimination is impossible without innovation.”

Read the full press release from Malaria No More here.