African leadership shaping the future of genomic surveillance for malaria in West Africa
Across West Africa, malaria control programmes are confronting increasing challenges from antimalarial drug resistance and insecticide resistance in mosquito vectors. Addressing these threats requires surveillance systems that are timely, precise and directly relevant to public health decision-making. Genomic surveillance is now widely recognised as a powerful complement to routine surveillance, offering insights that can guide targeted interventions and strengthen progress towards elimination. Central to this work are African scientists and public health leaders who are shaping approaches that are locally driven, regionally connected and built for long‑term sustainability.
Leadership from Prof Lucas Amenga‑Etego in Ghana and Prof Alfred Amambua-Ngwa in The Gambia has been instrumental in advancing this vision. Through a NIHR‑funded programme now in its second phase, they have led the establishment of regional genomic surveillance hubs at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana and the MRC Unit The Gambia. These hubs are designed to meet national surveillance needs while also supporting neighbouring countries through a networked model that reflects the shared epidemiology of malaria across borders.
Building on this foundation, and with complementary support from the Cambridge Africa Alborada Research Fund, a three-day regional workshop was held at the MRC Unit, The Gambia. The workshop brought together representatives from National Malaria Control Programmes and National Malaria Elimination Programmes, alongside researchers and implementing partners from seven West African countries. It created a dedicated space for country programmes to engage directly with genomic tools and to explore how genetic data can be translated into actionable intelligence for public health use. The participation of colleagues from Ghana, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone reinforced a shared regional commitment to collaboration and mutual learning.
Prof Amenga‑Etego, Prof Amambua-Ngwa and the wider project team led discussions that rooted genomics firmly in malaria control practice. Participants strengthened their understanding of genomic workflows, from sampling through to data analysis, including the use of Plasmodium falciparum and Anopheles gambiae amplicon panels. NMCP and NMEP staff gained practical insights into how resistance markers are interpreted and how genomic outputs can inform programme decisions at district and national levels. Importantly, the focus extended beyond technical capacity to include data use planning, communication and ownership by control programmes.
Sustainability was a central theme throughout the workshop. Participants examined funding strategies, grant writing and procurement within the current global health landscape, recognising that lasting genomic surveillance systems depend on stable resources, skilled staff and robust institutional processes. These discussions, led by experts with experience spanning both research and public health delivery, reflected regional priorities and highlighted practical pathways towards long‑term implementation and cross-border collaboration.
The leadership of Prof Amenga‑Etego and Prof Amambua-Ngwa ensured that the workshop remained firmly anchored in country ownership, equity and sustainability. By prioritising the needs of national programmes and fostering peer-to-peer learning, the meeting demonstrated how African‑led genomic surveillance can strengthen malaria control while also building systems relevant to wider epidemic preparedness.
Overall, the workshop marked an important step towards embedding genomic surveillance within routine public health practice in West Africa. It highlighted the strength of regional leadership in setting priorities, forging partnerships and shaping systems that respond to local needs. Continued investment in regionally led capacity, cross-border collaboration and clear data-to-decision pathways will position West African countries at the forefront of genomics-informed public health. The result will be not only stronger malaria control, but also a more resilient surveillance ecosystem capable of addressing future global health challenges.
By Professor Lucas Amenga-Etego