Accelerating the Fight against Malaria
for a More Equitable World
Malaria is one of the most ubiquitous diseases known to affect all species. World Malaria Day is observed on 25 April every year, highlighting the global efforts to control malaria and celebrating the gains made. The word “malaria” derives from the Italian for “bad air”- the mal’aria associated with marshes and swamps. WHO’s statistics for 2022 indicated that there were an estimated 249 million cases of malaria worldwide, with 0.2% being fatal. Antimalarial drugs are available, but the issue is their timely access. Resistance to medicines is another problem to cope with. These are the early days of the vaccine against malaria. India remained a significant contributor to the global malaria burden. Is it not the time to come up with a concerted effort to eliminate the suffering caused by diseases like malaria? Who is more powerful, with all the intelligence and evolution, human beings or this tiny creature buzzing around nesting on accumulated waters?
All efforts to fight malaria should be rooted in the principles of health equity, gender equality, and human rights to ensure that people in vulnerable situations are protected and have access to quality health services.
Dr Daniel Ngamije
Director, WHO Global Malaria Programme
World Malaria Day is observed on 25 April every year, highlighting the global efforts to control malaria and celebrating the gains made. Established in 2007, it aims to educate and enhance understanding of malaria and encourage taking steps to prevent malaria and treat it in endemic areas. It is WHO observation day. African governments have been observing Malaria Day since 2001. In its 60th session, WHO adopted the resolution to make it a global observation.
Malaria is one of the most ubiquitous diseases known to affect all species (mammals, birds, and reptiles). It has probably afflicted humans throughout our evolutionary history, although the first historical reports of symptoms that match those of malaria date back to the ancient Egyptian Greeks. The word “malaria” derives from the Italian for “bad air”- the mal’aria associated with marshes and swamps.
The parasites transmitted to people through mosquito bites lead to malaria, a life-threatening disease. WHO’s statistics for 2022 indicated that there were an estimated 249 million cases of malaria worldwide, with 0.2% being fatal and 0.6 million deaths. Children aged under five years are the most vulnerable group, accounting for 67% of deaths. The disease is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions around the equator, including much of Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Sub-Saharan African Region carries a disproportionately high share (94%) of the global malaria burden.
Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease. There has been considerable progress in controlling malaria, saving millions of lives. Antimalarial drugs are available, but the issue is their timely access. Resistance to medicines is another problem to cope with. These are the early days of the vaccine against malaria.
India remained a significant contributor to the global malaria burden. In 2023, despite a 55% reduction in malaria cases since 2015, India and Indonesia together accounted for about 94% of all malaria deaths in the WHO South-East Asia Region. The disease occurs throughout the year in India, but its prevalence increases during the rainy season due to mosquito breeding. The disease is prevalent in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa, Southern Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and north-eastern states. A country would be declared malaria-free if there were at least three consecutive years of zero malaria cases in indigenous countries. India has a long way to go to realise it.
There are many Mosquito-borne diseases. Like Zika, West Nile, Chikungunya, Dengue, and Malaria. Thankfully, not all mosquito varieties cause infections. The global mosquito repellent market is estimated to be more than $4 billion in 2020 and likely to reach $6 billion by 2027. Can at least part of the money spent on producing these replants be spent on taking measures to prevent the onset of these infections?
When the COVID pandemic impacted the world, researchers gathered, pooled their resources, and could get a vaccine and treatment methods. It assures us that we can find the solutions if we come together. Yet, one must ponder why pandemics still prevail in many parts of the world. Is it because they are the countries struggling with their public health systems? The stark reality is diseases like malaria continue to prevail and affect economically backward communities. While there are great souls who volunteer to extend help, charity is not the answer to finding solutions. Is it not the time to come up with a concerted effort to eliminate the suffering caused by diseases like malaria?
Philosophically speaking, who is more powerful, with all the intelligence and evolution, human beings or this tiny creature buzzing around nesting on accumulated waters?
Who is more powerful,
with all the intelligence and evolution, human beings or this tiny creature buzzing around nesting on accumulated waters?
Toons: Reema
Logs: M Sai Baba
ToonLogs
