The APMEN Vivax Working Group (VxWG)’s Advisory Council (AC) is an independent, consultative body of key regional experts, advocates, and stakeholders from the malaria community and other global health fields providing advice and counsel to support the activities of the VxWG.

Objectives:

• provide strategic and technical input on the VxWG work plan and the design, planning, and implementation of its activities.
• provide strategic guidance on the collation and dissemination of best practices from country partners and regional researcher’s study results.
• review global P. vivax control and elimination progress and other emerging evidence; based on this provide advice on how the VxWG can support decision-making by National Malaria Programmes (NMPs) and key stakeholders in Asia Pacific countries to incorporate evidence on all new treatments, tools, and approaches into their plans.

Composition:

The AC is composed of eight experts, representing their respective organizations or sectors in an honorary capacity. Their initial appointment will be for 2 years, with the possibility of membership renewal.

AC Member selection criteria:

• scientific or programmatic expertise on P. vivax malaria or other relevant global health fields.
• prominent researchers on vivax radical cure and/or implementation research expertise
• recognized health policymakers in the Asia Pacific region
• involved in global policy discussions on vivax malaria and radical cure. 
• sound understanding of the challenges and opportunities for malaria control.

An ideal composition of the AC will be National Malaria Programme managers (2), WHO regional advisors (3), CSO representative (1), Regional institute with experience in implementation research (1), Private-sector representative (1).

The APMEN VxWG aims to ensure gender equity and to ensure regional representation in the selection of the AC members.

AC Meetings:

• The AC will meet at least once annually for one day (normally attached to the APMEN VxWG annual meeting), with no more than two additional shorter teleconference meetings per year.
• Meetings will take place either in person or via teleconference with dates generally set at least one month in advance. The frequency and duration of meetings may be adjusted as necessary.

Confirmed members:

• Dr. Neeraj Dhingra, Director, National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India
• Dr. Claudia Abreu Lopes, Research fellow, University International Institute for Global Health, Malaysia
• Ms. Josselyn Neukom, CSO representative, Global Fund Regional Artemisinin Initiatives (RAI) Regional Steering Committee (RSC) 2021-23
• Dr. Luciano Tuseo, Coordinator, Mekong Malaria Elimination (MME) Program, World Health Organization
• Dr. Neena Valecha, Regional Adviser (Malaria), World Health Organization – South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO)
• Dr. Ghasem Zamani, Regional Advisor for Malaria Control and Elimination, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO)

Awaiting Confirmation:

• National Malaria Programme Manager (1)
• Private Sector Representative (1)