To achieve 40 per cent reduction in malaria cases and mortality rates by 2020, the focus should be on the most heavily affected countries in Africa
After an unprecedented success in controlling malaria globally, progress has stalled, according to a latest report by the World Health Organization (WHO). 2016 reported 5 million more malaria cases than 2015. There were around 4,45,000 deaths due to malaria deaths in 2016, similar to the previous year.
“In recent years, we have made major gains in the fight against malaria,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO. “We are now at a turning point. Without urgent action, we risk going backwards, and missing the global malaria targets for 2020 and beyond.”
The WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria calls for reductions of at least 40 per cent in malaria cases and mortality rates by 2020. According to the report, World Malaria Report 2017, the world is not on track to reach these critical milestones.
A major problem is insufficient funding at both domestic and international levels, resulting in major gaps in coverage of insecticide-treated nets, medicines, and other life-saving tools.
The estimated US$ 2.7 billion invested in 2016 in malaria control globally is below the US $6.5 billion annual investment required to meet the 2030 targets, says the report.
In 2016, governments of endemic countries provided US$ 800 million, representing 31 per cent of total funding. The United States of America was the largest international funder of malaria control programmes in 2016, providing US$1 billion (38 per cent of all malaria funding), followed by other major donors, including the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, Germany and Japan.
Africa bears the burden of malaria
The report shows that, in 2016, there were an estimated 216 million cases of malaria in 91 countries, up from 211 million cases in 2015.
While the rate of new cases of malaria had fallen overall, since 2014 the trend has leveled off and even reversed in some regions. Malaria mortality rates followed a similar pattern.
The African Region continues to bear an estimated 90 per cent of all malaria cases and deaths worldwide (see figure below). Fifteen countries – all but one in sub-Saharan Africa – carry 80 per cent of the global malaria burden.
“Clearly, if we are to get the global malaria response back on track, supporting the most heavily affected countries in the African Region must be the primary focus,” said Dr Tedros.
In most malaria-affected countries, sleeping under an insecticide-treated bednet (ITN) is the most common and most effective way to prevent infection. In 2016, an estimated 54 per cent of people at risk of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa slept under an ITN compared to 30 per cent in 2010. However, the rate of increase in ITN coverage has slowed since 2014, the report finds.
Spraying walls of homes with insecticides has led to a steep drop-from an estimated 180 million in 2010 to 100 million in 2016-in the number of people affected by malaria in the African Region. The region also saw a major increase in diagnostic testing in the public health sector, from 36 per cent of suspected cases in 2010 to 87 per cent in 2016. Although the majority (70 per cent) of patients received the most effective antimalarial medicines (artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), access to the public health system remains low. National-level surveys in the African Region show that only about one third of children with a fever are taken to a medical provider.
Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the Global Malaria Programme said, “We hope this report serves as a wake-up call for the global health community. Meeting the global malaria targets will only be possible through greater investment and expanded coverage of core tools that prevent, diagnose and treat malaria. Robust financing for the research and development of new tools is equally critical.”
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
India Environment Portal Resources :
15 countries, including India, accounted for 80% of global malaria deaths in 2016. Credit: ThinkStock.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.