Geneva, 25 April 2023 (TDI): The World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Development Programme (UNDP) are commemorating World Malaria Day under the theme “Zero Malaria – Draw the line against malaria” on April 25th.
The main focus of this year’s commemoration is to emphasize the need for increased investment, innovation, and implementation to achieve a world with zero malaria.
The day aims to raise awareness about the ongoing fight against malaria, encourage political commitment, and mobilize resources to combat the disease.
The World health organization aims to reach marginalized populations with effective tools and strategies to combat malaria. The total number of cases reported was 247 million of which 69000 resulted in death.
Africa is the most vulnerable region when it comes to malaria.
According to the World health organization’s World malaria report 2022, 95% cases in 2021 were reported in the agency’s African region. Malaria deaths in Africa accounted for 96% of the total deaths majority of them were children under the age of 5.
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After Africa, South East Asia is the most vulnerable to malaria with nine malaria-endemic countries, contributing 2% of the malaria burden globally. Although the region has improved in terms of reducing malaria case incidence and mortality.
Recently on 4 April Tajikistan was certified as a malaria-free country. UN Development hailed this as a milestone in combating the disease as Tajikistan was previously a high-malaria burden country.
The UN Development and Global Fund significantly helped the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Tajikistan in implementing a comprehensive malaria control program.
The program included providing prevention tools to combat malaria such as insecticide-treated bed nets, training health workers, and providing technical support.
Providing the necessary tools to marginalized populations is central to combating malaria.
The implementation of the program led to the elimination of malaria cases in Tajikistan. In 2014 no malaria cases were registered in the country.
This highlights the importance of international cooperation to tackle global health issues that most affect the poor and marginalized.
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