Zoomal Stakeholder meeting – Jakarta

A/Prof Angela Devine and Mr Patrick Abraham from the Global Health and Infectious Diseases Unit, together with their collaborators from the Menzies School of Health Research attended the ZOOMAL stakeholder meeting held in Jakarta, 23–24 November, 2023. The meetings were attended by a range of stakeholders including the Indonesian Ministry of Health and local malaria control program representatives.

The ZOOMAL project is a multidisciplinary surveillance project led by A/Prof Matthew Grigg, which aims to strengthen the surveillance of zoonotic Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in Sumatra and Kalimantan. During the meetings Patrick presented preliminary data analysis on the out-of-pocket costs for patients and their families of knowlesi malaria patients. This was a fantastic opportunity to consult with key stakeholders to determine additional considerations and potential exploratory analyses for the remainder of the project.

Overall, the meetings were a valuable experience for all involved, where collaborations between the entire study team and external stakeholders will undoubtably improve the outcomes and policy relevance of the study. Angela and Patrick are both grateful for the opportunity to continue to foster partnerships with their Indonesian colleagues.