Developing High-Resolution Population and Settlement Data for Impactful Malaria Interventions in Zambia

Area of Science:

• Geospatial science
• Public health
• Demography

Background:

• High-resolution geospatial data on population, infrastructure, and boundaries are vital for efficient health sector resource allocation.
• Government involvement is essential for the relevance and sustainability of these data products in public health.
• Accurate, up-to-date data is critical for implementing large-scale health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of foundational geospatial data for health sector planning.
• To demonstrate the necessity of government partnership in creating and managing geospatial data for public health.
• To illustrate how geospatial data can support specific public health campaigns, using malaria control as an example.

Main Methods:

• Development of high-resolution geospatial data products.
• Collaboration with government partners for data creation, improvement, and management.
• Application of data and planning tools to support national health strategies.

Main Results:

• Geospatial data products were developed to enhance resource allocation in health interventions.
• Government collaboration ensured the applicability of data to public health campaigns.
• The Geo-Referenced Infrastructure and Demographic Data for Development (GRID3) program and partners provided maps and planning templates for Zambia's National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP).

Conclusions:

• Foundational geospatial data, developed with government partners, significantly improves health sector planning and resource allocation.
• Effective public health campaigns, such as malaria control, rely on accurate and accessible geospatial information.
• The GRID3 program's work in Zambia exemplifies a successful model for leveraging geospatial data in national health strategies.