“There is no global health without local health.”

This guiding principle was at the heart of Dr. Frank Konings, Program Director of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute (HKJCGHI), during his recent mission to Madagascar, where he worked closely with district health centers to establish mechanisms to monitor whether fever cases are caused by viral infections. This capability is critical for improving patient care, monitoring disease trends, and enhancing pandemic preparedness.

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The mission focused on the HKJCGHI Workstream “Epidemiology and Pandemic Preparedness”, a core component of HKJCGHI’s efforts to build resilient health systems. Dr. Konings visited four sites across Madagascar to advance surveillance of diseases spread by mosquitoes, such as chikungunya, laying the groundwork for enhanced laboratory capacity for viral detection and characterization. These improvements will enable timely identification and response to emerging threats—an essential step toward safeguarding communities against future outbreaks.

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During his mission, he was joined by Prof. Raphaël Rakotozandrindrainy of the Madagascar Institute for Vaccine Research (MIVR) and the University of Antananarivo. Prof. Rakotozandrindrainy emphasized that “There are so many fever cases, and most of the time we don’t know the exact cause. This project will help us understand which viruses are circulating in Madagascar and support the government in making decisions on how to fight these diseases, including vaccination.”

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This initiative builds on long-standing partnerships established through the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), particularly with the MIVR, and is further strengthened by the collaborative efforts of HKJCGHI.

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Progress in global health is never the work of one person—it is the result of many dedicated individuals and organizations working together. At HKJCGHI, we remain committed to pushing forward, united in our mission to create a healthier, more prepared world.​​