"Zero Malaria starts with me," says UN health agency

"Every two minutes, a child dies of this preventable and treatable disease," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Every two minutes, a child dies of this preventable and treatable disease – Head of the WHO

Malaria is a deadly disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female mosquitoes. According to the latest report on malaria in the world, published by the United Nations health agency, the estimated number of malaria cases has remained virtually unchanged between 2015 and 2017.

In addition, there are about 219 million cases worldwide and about 435,000 deaths.

In his video message, the WHO chief said the "Zero Malaria Begins with Me" campaign called on political leaders, the private sector and affected communities to take action to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment. , emphasizing: "We all have a role to play. to play".

Celebrated every 25 April, World Malaria Day highlights the need for sustained investment and political commitment to malaria prevention, control and elimination.

A disturbing numbers game

Following data and trends, the goal of the WHO Global Technical Strategy to reduce malaria cases and deaths by at least 40% by 2020 has not been achieved.

Funding for the global malaria response in 2017 remained virtually unchanged from the previous year, which amounted to $ 3.1 billion for malaria control and elimination programs. which is well below the $ 6.6 billion planned for 2020.

According to the latest report on malaria in the world, major gaps in coverage limit access to key tools recommended by WHO for the prevention, detection and treatment of the disease.

In 2017, 50% of the population at risk in Africa slept under an insecticide-treated net, a figure similar to the previous year and a marginal improvement since 2015.

In addition, in the same year, just over 22% of eligible pregnant women in Africa received the recommended three or more doses of preventive vaccine, up from 17% in 2015. From 2015 to 2017, only 48% of children of continent with a fever were taken to a qualified medical provider.

Respond to the situation

In response, WHO and the RBM Partnership – the largest global platform for coordinated action for a malaria-free world – have recently catalyzed a new approach to scaling up aid to people living with malaria. countries highly affected by malaria, particularly in Africa.

"A heavy burden for high impact" is based on four pillars: increased political will to reduce the number of deaths from malaria; more strategic information to generate impact; best advice, policies and strategies; and coordinated national responses to malaria.

On World Malaria Day, WHO and other partners promote the "Zero Malaria Begins with Me" campaign to keep malaria on the political agenda, mobilize additional resources and empowering communities to take ownership of malaria prevention and care.

"The time has come to act decisively," WHO said.

Break it down

Last year, in the Western Pacific region, there were more than 6,000,000 cases of malaria.

From 2015 to 2017, the WHO reported a 47% increase in the number of preventable and treatable diseases and a 43% increase in deaths, mainly due to outbreaks reported in Papua New Guinea , in Cambodia and the Solomon Islands, which represent malaria in the region.

"Mosquitoes do not know borders and will bite without distinction of nationality or reason for migration – IOM

"Urgent action is needed to cope with epidemics in the most affected countries," said the UN health agency. "Ownership of the challenge belongs to the countries most affected by malaria and empowering communities is essential to support local engagement in the region."

"Mosquitoes do not know borders"

According to the International Organization for Migration, including migrants, whether it is about people with disabilities, refugees or other vulnerable or displaced groups, the response to malaria should include all populations.

"Mosquitoes know no boundaries and will bite regardless of nationality or reason for their migration," IOM said.

Managing health, mobility and borders means "much more" than monitoring a border checkpoint between two countries, IOM said. It is a shared commitment that recognizes "a series of spaces, actors and conditions that are part of the complex and ever-changing continuum of human mobility".

The disease is easily transmitted in the overcrowded and unhygienic conditions that people on the move face.

Although migration poses no health risk, IOM has stated that unfavorable conditions on the migratory route "threaten the health of migrants and communities living in transit, destination and return areas".

The UN agency for migration issues said that anyone connected with the migration cycle must be "informed, aware and prepared to prevent, detect and respond" to health threats.