VECTOR control has been at the core of successful malaria control. However, a dearth of field-oriented vector biologists threatens to undermine global reductions in malaria burden. In the Asia-Pacific region, skilled biologists are needed to manage insecticide resistance, to maintain coverage with current interventions, to develop new paradigms for tackling 'residual' transmission and to target interventions as transmission becomes increasingly heterogeneous. Recognising this human resource crisis, in September 2013, WHO Global Malaria Programme issued guidance for capacity building in entomology and vector control, including recommendations for countries and implementing partners.
Regional and global initiatives are urgently needed to promote public health entomology as a career pathway for sustainable integrated vector management; and to promote entomology as a training pathway. Collaboration with WHO and partners can play a strategic role in building human resources for public health entomology and vector control, including skills in epidemiology, mosquito taxonomy, geographic information systems, operational research and programme management, and to establish the requisite professional posts and career opportunities
In 2014 the WHO Global Malaria Program issued a guidance note focusing on the urgent need for new tools and strategies to address residual malaria transmission. It underscored the necessity for strong evidence on the magnitude and drivers of residual malaria transmission in order to develop, optimize, and deploy these strategies. Beyond residual malaria transmission, we investigated broader issues that may contribute to continued malaria transmission, including areas where vector control tools are not properly deployed and/or are not effective against the vectors. Recent studies in Greater Mekong Subregion were carried out to fill these evidence gaps, and to provide information on the drivers of malaria transmission.