Event highlights
On 22 April 2026, a webinar on malaria was held as part of the ongoing project on strengthening national capacities for COVID-19 and other public health emergencies. The session brought together national experts to address key aspects of malaria diagnosis and to provide updated perspectives on the disease, highlighting the importance of laboratory capacity and multidisciplinary approaches in strengthening preparedness for public health threats.
Malaria remains a significant global public health challenge, requiring timely diagnosis, strong laboratory systems and continuous knowledge exchange among health professionals. Despite progress in control efforts, malaria continues to pose risks, particularly in the context of global mobility and changing environmental conditions.
Expert presentations
The webinar featured 2 expert presentations covering key aspects and challenges in this area.
- The importance of laboratory diagnosis of malaria and recent developments
Dr Umut Berberoğlu from the Directorate General of Public Health, Department of Microbiology Reference Laboratories and Biological Products, National Parasitology Reference Laboratory, Ankara, presented recent developments in laboratory diagnosis and highlighted the importance of accurate and timely detection. - A different perspective on malaria
Professor Dr Ahmet Özbilgin from the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, provided broader insights into malaria, addressing current challenges and perspectives in the field.
Moderation
The webinar was moderated by Professor Dr Ülgen Zeki Ok from the Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa; Associate Professor Dr Yasemin Coşgun, Medical Microbiology Clinic, Ankara Etlik City Hospital; and Dr Gültekin Ünal, National Professional Officer for Laboratories at the WHO Country Office in Türkiye.
Key outcomes
The session highlighted the importance of:
- strengthening laboratory capacity for timely and accurate diagnosis;
- enhancing surveillance systems for early detection and response;
- promoting knowledge exchange among public health and laboratory professionals; and
- supporting preparedness for vector-borne diseases within broader public health emergency frameworks.
The webinar concluded with an interactive discussion and Q&A session, enabling participants to exchange experiences and discuss practical challenges.
Target audience
The webinar series is primarily aimed at microbiology specialists, epidemiologists, laboratory professionals, infectious disease clinicians, public health experts, researchers and representatives of national reference laboratories and public health institutions.
About the project and the series
The “Strengthening national capacities against COVID-19 and other public health emergencies” project is implemented by the Department of Microbiology Reference Laboratories and Biological Products of the General Directorate of Public Health under the Ministry of Health of Türkiye, with support from the WHO Country Office in Türkiye, and financed by the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye. The project supports efforts to enhance preparedness, surveillance and response systems, contributing to resilient health systems capable of preventing, detecting and responding to emerging and re-emerging public health threats.
The webinars are conducted in collaboration with the Turkish Society of Microbiology and the Clinical Microbiology Specialization Association (KLIMUD), strengthening professional engagement and technical exchange across the microbiology and infectious disease communities.
In recent months, the webinar series has addressed key topics such as influenza, antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis and Legionnaires’ disease, reflecting its comprehensive approach to strengthening national capacities across a range of public health threats.
The webinar series forms part of these efforts by promoting technical exchange, dissemination of evidence-based practices and strengthened collaboration at national and international level.
Registration
All webinars in the series are free to attend. Advance registration is required and is conducted through the official registration links shared for each session.
Next session
The series will continue in the coming months with additional priority pathogens and other themes relevant to public health.