Global Vector Hub

FREDERIK SEELIG: Hello. My name is Dr. Frederik Seelig, and I’m the project coordinator and partnerships manager for the Global Vector based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The purpose of this presentation is to familiarise yourself with the aims of the Global Vector Hub, and the objective is to demonstrate an understanding of the four major aims of the Global Vector Hub. What is the global vision of Vector Control? The WHO Global Vector Control Response 2017 to 2030 states that the global aim of vector control measures should be to reduce the burden and threat vector-borne diseases through effective, locally adapted, sustainable vector control.

One of the key strategies to achieve this aim is to strengthen inter- and intra-sectoral action and collaboration. Or to quote, “reduction of disease burden through vector control is a shared responsibility of all members of society.”

What are the objectives of the Global Vector Hub? To be the first port of call for researchers, public health workers, government agencies, policymakers, and NGOs, responding to threats of vector-borne disease. Build a community of practise through hosting bespoke educational materials and learning packs for professionals working in vector control and research. Provide a platform for transparent data sharing and worldwide information about vector species that transmit disease. Build capacity and maximise preparedness for situations. Connect vector control professionals through developing a network and discussion forums with search functions that are intuitive. Reduce vector-borne disease incidence by making research more effective and less wasteful worldwide. The Global Vector Hub aims to establish a community of practise for vector control methods.

It hosts free research tools, standard operating procedures, guidelines, and training packages. This enables researchers, local health care providers, and practitioners to access up-to-date resources, provide capacity on the ground in regions that are currently dealing with or at risk of vector-borne diseases, and aid continual knowledge sharing around the world. The Global Vector Hub has developed an online research community through hosting a searchable registry of academic, government, and industry-led vector research sites and vector control programmes as well as active online discussion forums with users. Here, experiences and expertise are shared, lessons learned, gaps identified, and collaboration is facilitated.

The Global Vector Hub includes a real-time disease and vector information function with an easy-to-use database and interactive map, enabling the user to have access to relevant vector control data about any country at the click of a button. Country-specific vector information include the vector species present, diseases currently being transmitted, and, importantly, what vector control initiatives are in place. There are many initiatives working towards compiling resources and mapping data for vectors and diseases. However, current networks focused on one subject area, such as one geographical region, one vector, one disease, or one data type.

The aim of the Global Vector Hub is to link these resources and enable the comparison and compilation of data from multiple resources to identify gaps in knowledge and capacity and address those gaps by encouraging the community to generate data or by generating data ourselves. So in summary, the key objectives of the Global Vector Hub are to build capacity, provide training and educational materials, establish a community of practise, deliver a platform for sharing data, and create a multi-sectoral network of individuals, departments, and programmes working on research and operational control of vector-borne diseases. Please join the Global Vector Hub. We invite you to register yourself, your work, or your organisation via the network function at our website shown here.

If you would like to join our expert panel of peer reviewers, please contact us at this email address shown here.

If you’re interested in sharing data or featuring your resources on the Global Vector Hub, please access the Data section at our website shown here. Thank you very much.