MARCAD Plus Fellow, Dieu Merci Mbumba Lupaka engages Health Stakeholders to Strengthen Malaria Prevention in Pregnancy in Volta Region

From July 14th to August 29th, 2025, MARCAD Plus PhD fellow from the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dieu Merci Mbumba Lupaka, carried out a series of community engagement activities in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service’s Regional Health Team in the Volta Region, the Ho Municipal Health Directorate, the management teams of Ho Teaching Hospital and Ho Municipal Hospital.

The meetings brought together senior health authorities at both regional and district levels. The Ghana Health Service was represented by the Director of the Volta Regional Directorate and the Municipal District Director, both of whom play leading roles in health service planning and delivery. Dieu Merci also engaged with the Regional and District Focal Points of the National Malaria Control Programme, who serve as the technical leads for malaria prevention and control in the region.

The meetings had two main objectives:

1. To provide the MARCAD Plus PhD fellow with an opportunity to share information about his research—what he is studying, why it matters, and how it relates to malaria prevention in pregnancy.
2. To create space for listening and dialogue with health stakeholders.

“We wanted to hear directly from hospital managers and frontline health workers, because their insights and experiences are crucial for shaping a study that works in practice. We also wanted the discussions to be two-way. It wasn’t just about presenting our ideas but about creating open dialogue to identify real challenges and practical solutions on the ground. In the end, the meetings helped us build consensus around strategies to improve malaria prevention in pregnancy and secured the active support of hospital management for the rollout of the research,” said Dieu Merci

Senior hospital staff also participated in the meetings, including leaders from maternal and child health units, antenatal care units, and maternity wards.

“We made sure to bring together people who are directly involved in maternal health and malaria prevention. At the regional and district levels, this included teams from the Ghana Health Service directorates, who oversee health policy and service delivery. At the facility level, we collaborated with the management teams of Ho Teaching Hospital and Ho Municipal Hospital, whose leadership plays a crucial role in implementing new interventions. Their presence ensured that discussions combined both policy-level leadership and hands-on practical experience. Together, this ensured the outcomes of the meetings were well-informed, feasible, and backed by those with the authority to make things happen’’ highlighted Dieu Merci.

According to the MARCAD Plus PhD fellow, the participants were very optimistic about the discussions. They highlighted how relevant the research is, especially given that malaria in pregnancy remains such a challenge in the region. They appreciated the open, honest dialogue and valued that their voices as health leaders and frontline workers were heard. Many said the exchange helped them think more deeply about practical, local solutions, and some even suggested that these kinds of consultative meetings should become regular practice, since they help bridge the gap between research and implementation.

Beyond appreciation, participants also pledged their personal support at different levels. This gave Dieu Merci the confidence that his study would be supported throughout the health system.

‘’Their feedback was especially valuable for shaping the study itself. For example, initially, our main research question was focused on how submicroscopic malaria contributes to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Based on their suggestions, we expanded the scope also to assess how effective current interventions (particularly intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp)) are in addressing submicroscopic malaria’’ said the MARCAD Plus fellow.

According to Dieu Merci Mbumba Lupaka, the meetings have already made an impact in several ways.

• They raised awareness about malaria in pregnancy, including the hidden issue of submicroscopic infections.
• They positioned it as a shared priority across the health system.
• They also promoted a culture of evidence-based decision-making. Health authorities and frontline workers could see how research findings can directly guide their work, which strengthened the link between research and day-to-day practice.

Another significant impact is the sense of ownership. Because stakeholders were part of shaping the research from the start, they now see themselves as partners, not just observers. This co-creation makes it much more likely that the findings will be applied once the study is complete.

‘’Looking ahead, I believe these impacts will contribute to stronger maternal and neonatal health outcomes. By improving prevention strategies, grounding interventions in evidence, and fostering collaboration across all levels of the health system, the meetings have laid the foundation for lasting improvements in how malaria in pregnancy is tackled.’’ said Dieu Merci Mbumba Lupaka, MARCAD Plus PhD fellow,