Student Spotlight – Azan Virji

A native of Tanzania, MPH student Azan Virji interned with the Global Malaria Program (GMP) at the World Health Organization headquarters (WHO) this summer.

Despite a long history of malaria prevention efforts and mosquito control programs that have decreased the burden of the disease, over 90 countries still have ongoing malaria transmission. African countries claim a disproportionate share of both incidence and mortality from the disease.

Azan, a second-year student in the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial diseases, developed surveillance assessment tools that the WHO GMP can use globally to better understand the drivers of poor malaria surveillance. He also compared national malaria strategic plans and the WHO malaria elimination strategic guidelines to check for any differences.

The GMP is at the center of technological advancements in the field of malaria diagnosis, treatment and control, said Azan. “I was fortunate enough to receive my very own project of critical importance to the surveillance team and learn about the fight against malaria in the 21st century.”

Azan Virji hopes to become an infectious disease physician either working for Medicins Sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders) or in a low-income country. After gaining field experience, he wants to work on global disease policy recommendations at the WHO headquarters.