On World Malaria Day, Mamata reiterates her commitment to fight disease

Unfortunately, we dare say, malaria surveillance systems are usually weakest in countries with the highest burden of disease, particularly in Africa.

WHO joins partner organisations in promoting this year’s World Malaria Day theme, “Ready to Beat Malaria”.

The World Malaria Day is an worldwide observance commemorated every April 25 to recognize global efforts to control malaria with a common goal of ensuring a world free of malaria. Puddicombe spoke against the backdrop of the 2018 World Malaria Day (WMD) to be celebrated on Wednesday, with the theme “Ready to Beat Malaria”.

Malaria, a life-threatening disease, is caused by a parasite, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. In the last decade, six countries have been certified as having eliminated malaria: Morocco (2010), Turkmenistan (2010), Armenia (2011), Maldives (2015), Sri Lanka (2016) and Kyrgyzstan (2016). For those planning to travel to countries that have known malaria cases, it is very important to take preventive measures, including avoiding mosquito bites by using insect repellent, covering the arms and legs, and using a mosquito net.

Statistic data said that Nigeria is suffering the biggest threat of malaria in the planet, with approximately 51 million cases and 207,000 reported dead people annually.

However, recent evidence suggests that the trend toward fewer malaria cases and deaths has stalled, or may have reversed course in some countries.

Malaria strains national economies and impoverishes households, Adesina remarked, adding that the economic impact of the tropical disease costs Africa an estimated United States $12 billion annually.

“This situation calls for more action and a robust approach, including political leadership and financial investments which should be directed at dealing with the disease”. All hospitals also have access to the latest malaria treatment regime available.

He then urged countries to allocate adequate resources and to work across sectors and strengthen cross-border collaboration. In 2016, 91 countries reported a combined total of 216 million malaria cases – five million more than in 2015.

But there is also an urgent need to streamline the healthcare system from diagnosis to drug administration if the war on malaria is to be won.

Currently, Nigeria is the highest-burden country, accounting for 27 percent of global malaria cases and the overall financial gap over the next three years to implement national malaria strategy is US$ 1.4 billion. Novartis aims to contribute to the WHO’s target of reducing malaria-related child mortality by at least 90 per cent in 2030. “Prevalence ranged from 6.5 per cent to 74.1 per cent in different study sites”, Fiamanya adds, noting that most of the studies were conducted in Central and West Africa, including more than ten studies from Nigeria.

“Surely, the older folks will be glad to reveal truth that has never been told about herbal malaria therapy, handed down through generations”.