Community-based malaria surveillance in Cambodia using a mobile reporting app for village malaria workers: An implementation case study
7 affiliations
- 1National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- 2Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- 3The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
- 4Independent Consultant, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- 5WHO Mekong Malaria Elimination Programme, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- 6Nuffield Department of Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- 7Model Health Ltd, Brixham, United Kingdom
Abstract
To support malaria elimination, Cambodia implemented a locally developed, nationally integrated, community-based mobile digital surveillance system enabling real-time, case-based detection, reporting and response. This implementation case study describes the development, national deployment and operational performance of an Android-based mobile app used by Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) and Mobile Malaria Workers (MMWs) integrated within the national Malaria Information System (MIS). Developed collaboratively with VMWs, the system enables real-time, geolocated case reporting with offline functionality, built-in validation checks, centralized device management and automated analytics. Evaluation employed three data sources: routine surveillance data (2018–2024), a contextual survey of VMW/MMWs in three high-risk provinces (2024), and a national technical usability survey (2025). Outcomes included reporting timeliness, completeness, surveillance performance indicators aligned with the national malaria elimination framework and user experience. Following national implementation in 2017− 2018, data completeness and timeliness improved. Between 2018 and 2024 reporting coverage increased from 19% to 99% and data completeness has remained ≥99% since 2019. Case notification within 24 hours increased from 2% to 99% and foci investigation within 7 days from 0% to 98%. Malaria testing rates expanded from 135,664 to 715,277 per year. Intensified surveillance was concurrent with a decline in active malaria foci from 129 in 2020 to 0 in 2024. A contextual evaluation including 88 VMW/MMWs showed strong support for surveillance activities, including reporting and data analysis at the community level. The technical evaluation survey found that 94% (904/966) of VMWs were very satisfied/satisfied with the app, with technical problems experienced never/rarely by 82% (795/966). Key operational challenges included intermittent internet connectivity, limited electricity supply, and transport constraints, although offline functionality and data synchronization prevented data loss. Cambodia’s experience demonstrates the feasibility and sustainability of large-scale digital surveillance in resource-constrained settings and highlights the importance of integration, training and sustainability through local ownership. Author summary: Comprehensive and timely malaria surveillance is an essential component for achieving malaria elimination in Cambodia. The implementation of the VMW app as part of the wider MIS substantially strengthened malaria surveillance in Cambodia. Previously, geographical remoteness, limited transport and communication barriers caused delays in case notification and slowed public health responses. The VMW mobile app has addressed these challenges by enabling individual case-based, real-time, geolocated reporting and improving coordination between VMWs and health authorities. Locally developed and maintained using open-source software, the system is sustainable and adaptable to elimination and post-elimination settings. The app is also amenable to expansion or repurposing to other disease surveillance needs. This experience illustrates that digital health solutions to support community-based surveillance can be sustainably deployed in low-resource settings to positively impact public health.
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BibTeX
@article{ngor2026communitybased,
title = {{Community-based malaria surveillance in Cambodia using a mobile reporting app for village malaria workers: An implementation case study}},
author = {Pengby Ngor and Huy Rekol and Siv Sovannaroth and Po Ly and Eng Thyda and Sok Kimleng and Yoem Rattana and Ou Vunsokserey and Hem Vanna and Ran Sany and Chang Pumeoung and Steven Mellor and Rady Try and Pascal Ringwald and Richard J. Maude and Lisa J. White},
journal = {PLOS Digital Health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pdig.0001626},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0001626},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Community-based malaria surveillance in Cambodia using a mobile reporting app for village malaria workers: An implementation case study
AU - Pengby Ngor
AU - Huy Rekol
AU - Siv Sovannaroth
AU - Po Ly
AU - Eng Thyda
AU - Sok Kimleng
AU - Yoem Rattana
AU - Ou Vunsokserey
AU - Hem Vanna
AU - Ran Sany
AU - Chang Pumeoung
AU - Steven Mellor
AU - Rady Try
AU - Pascal Ringwald
AU - Richard J. Maude
AU - Lisa J. White
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/03
JO - PLOS Digital Health
DO - 10.1371/journal.pdig.0001626
UR - https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0001626
AB - To support malaria elimination, Cambodia implemented a locally developed, nationally integrated, community-based mobile digital surveillance system enabling real-time, case-based detection, reporting and response. This implementation case study describes the development, national deployment and operational performance of an Android-based mobile app used by Village Malaria Workers (VMWs) and Mobile Malaria Workers (MMWs) integrated within the national Malaria Information System (MIS). Developed collaboratively with VMWs, the system enables real-time, geolocated case reporting with offline functionality, built-in validation checks, centralized device management and automated analytics. Evaluation employed three data sources: routine surveillance data (2018–2024), a contextual survey of VMW/MMWs in three high-risk provinces (2024), and a national technical usability survey (2025). Outcomes included reporting timeliness, completeness, surveillance performance indicators aligned with the national malaria elimination framework and user experience. Following national implementation in 2017− 2018, data completeness and timeliness improved. Between 2018 and 2024 reporting coverage increased from 19% to 99% and data completeness has remained ≥99% since 2019. Case notification within 24 hours increased from 2% to 99% and foci investigation within 7 days from 0% to 98%. Malaria testing rates expanded from 135,664 to 715,277 per year. Intensified surveillance was concurrent with a decline in active malaria foci from 129 in 2020 to 0 in 2024. A contextual evaluation including 88 VMW/MMWs showed strong support for surveillance activities, including reporting and data analysis at the community level. The technical evaluation survey found that 94% (904/966) of VMWs were very satisfied/satisfied with the app, with technical problems experienced never/rarely by 82% (795/966). Key operational challenges included intermittent internet connectivity, limited electricity supply, and transport constraints, although offline functionality and data synchronization prevented data loss. Cambodia’s experience demonstrates the feasibility and sustainability of large-scale digital surveillance in resource-constrained settings and highlights the importance of integration, training and sustainability through local ownership. Author summary: Comprehensive and timely malaria surveillance is an essential component for achieving malaria elimination in Cambodia. The implementation of the VMW app as part of the wider MIS substantially strengthened malaria surveillance in Cambodia. Previously, geographical remoteness, limited transport and communication barriers caused delays in case notification and slowed public health responses. The VMW mobile app has addressed these challenges by enabling individual case-based, real-time, geolocated reporting and improving coordination between VMWs and health authorities. Locally developed and maintained using open-source software, the system is sustainable and adaptable to elimination and post-elimination settings. The app is also amenable to expansion or repurposing to other disease surveillance needs. This experience illustrates that digital health solutions to support community-based surveillance can be sustainably deployed in low-resource settings to positively impact public health.
SN - 2767-3170
ER -