The Epidemiology and Public Health Unit of the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) published recently an article entitled "Intermittent Preventive Treatment for Forest Goers by Forest Malaria Workers: An Observational Study on a Key Intervention for Malaria Elimination in Cambodia".
Publication of their latest study in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific.
This groundbreaking research sheds light on the implementation and impact of Intermittent Preventive Treatment for forest goers (IPTf) in Cambodia’s high-transmission forest areas.
Conducted between March 2019 and January 2021, this study closely examined the efficacy of IPTf in curtailing malaria transmission among at-risk forest populations. Engaging with 2,198 forest goers over two years, the research team documented a significant reduction in malaria prevalence, particularly for P. falciparum and P. vivax, after implementing IPTf. These findings are particularly noteworthy given the scarcity of evidence supporting intermittent preventive treatment strategies in such hard-to-reach populations.
This research pioneers the investigation of IPTf in high-risk forest settings, highlighting its crucial role in tackling residual malaria and aligning with the World Health Organization’s objective of eradicating malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion by 2030. Moreover, it has already influenced national and regional malaria control policies, with the Cambodian National Malaria Program (CNM) endorsing IPTf as a key strategy.
The authors extend our heartfelt gratitude to the French 5% Initiative (Initiative Canal 2-17SANIN205) for their funding and our valuable collaborators including the CNM and the Mekong Malaria Elimination Program from WHO, enabling us to conduct this vital research. Their support has been instrumental in advancing our efforts towards malaria elimination in Cambodia and beyond.
This study represents a significant milestone in the journey towards elimination malaria from Cambodia’s forests and Southeast Asia, underscoring the potential of IPTf as a proactive measure for at-risk populations. Together, let’s continue our efforts towards a malaria-free future !