World Malaria Day: let's draw the line against malaria

25 April 2021, Cairo – On World Malaria Day (25 April) WHO is calling for increased political commitment and investment in malaria prevention and control to reach the zero malaria target, and is urging individuals in malaria-endemic countries to draw the line against malaria by getting tested for both malaria and COVID-19 in case of fever, policy-makers to increase coverage of malaria prevention and treatment interventions as part of efforts to achieve universal health coverage, and regional donors to scale up efforts to fight malaria and other vector-borne diseases. "Drawing the line against malaria is the theme of this year's World Malaria Day, which means reaching the zero malaria target. It is an ambitious and challenging but urgent goal," said Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. "Fourteen countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are free of malaria transmission; 2 – the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia – are at the elimination stage,  while 6 others, namely Afghanistan, Djibouti, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, still carry a high burden of the disease." While the burden of malaria was reduced in the Eastern Mediterranean Region between 2000 and 2010, progress has stalled, and in 2019, more than 5 million cases were reported. The number of cases has increased as a result of challenges brought about by the unprecedented scale of humanitarian emergencies facing the Region, and Read more...
Source: WHO EMRO News - Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news