On November 20, 2024, experts from across the region convened virtually for the latest joint meeting of the Meningitis and Septicemia Mapping Network (MenMap) Steering and Scientific Committees. This meeting offered a space for participants to review the ongoing progress achieved in combating invasive bacterial diseases (IBDs) and address key challenges seen in the areas of surveillance and diagnosis.
External Quality Assessment (EQA) Results
A significant highlight of the meeting was the discussion on the EQA results led by Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee, Prof. Muhamed-Kheir Taha. Prof. Taha provided insights into the recently conducted EQA process, while emphasizing its role in standardizing diagnostic capabilities and enhancing laboratory performance across Iraq, Egypt, and Jordan.
National Updates on Meningitis Surveillance
Country focal points from Iraq, Egypt, and Jordan presented detailed updates on their meningitis surveillance programs, outlining achievements and persistent gaps. These presentations underscored MenMap’s commitment to improving data quality, fostering collaboration, and addressing the unique challenges faced by each participating country.
Dashboard and Variables Discussions
The meeting also offered an opportunity for participants to provide updates on MenMap’s digital dashboard, recently introduced. These updates were followed by discussions that focused on refining dashboard variables to enhance data visualization and utility.
Data Analysis Plan
EMPHNET’s team presented the MenMap data analysis plan, outlining its objectives and the methodology used to uncover actionable insights from the collected data. In this presentation, they also showed how data will be analyzed, and to maximize the impact gained from this analysis, the committee then provided its feedback on what was presented.
First-Year Reflections and Planning Ahead
Following these discussions, participants engaged in a reflective session which focused on lessons learned from the first year of MenMap’s activities. They identified successes and areas for improvement, and they explored strategies to enhance collaboration and integrate innovative technologies into surveillance efforts.
The meeting concluded with a Q&A session and an agreement on actionable steps to further strengthen the network’s efforts.
