From September 16–18, the MAP Dar team at the Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), in partnership with the Department of Statistics at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), hosted a three-day intensive training on “Geospatial Modelling for Public Health Applications.” The program concluded with the graduation of 21 participants from government and non-governmental institutions, including UDSM and the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program.

The training tackled a crucial question in malaria research: Why can neighboring areas show drastically different malaria risks? Using advanced geospatial techniques and INLA models, participants learned to fill gaps in surveillance data, visualize patterns accurately, and generate actionable insights to guide malaria control efforts in underreported and hard-to-reach areas.

Facilitated by experts from UDSM, MAP Dar Node, and Vector Atlas including Prof. Nick Golding, a global leader in infectious disease modelling and enriched by insights from Dr. Amina Msengwa, Chief Statistician of the National Bureau of Statistics, the course combined world-class expertise with practical, hands-on learning.

As the second cohort of the program, these graduates return to their institutions ready to apply their skills, strengthening research, policy, and practice to drive real-world public health impact across Tanzania.