[ad_1]
According to the new Global Report on Malaria 2018, after a period of success in the global fight against malaria, malaria case reductions have stagnated after several years of decline worldwide..
To bring back the reduction of malaria deaths and illnesses, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners are joining a new country-led effort launched today to strengthen the fight against malaria. prevention and treatment, as well as to increase investment, to protect vulnerable people deadly disease.
For the second year in a row, the annual report produced by the World Health Organization reveals a record number of people affected by malaria. In 2017, an estimated 219 million cases of malaria, compared with 217 million the previous year. But in previous years, the number of people contracted by malaria worldwide had steadily decreased from 239 million in 2010 to 214 million in 2015.
"Nobody should die of malaria. But the world is facing a new reality: as progress stagnates, we run the risk of wasting years of hard work, investment and success in reducing the number of people suffering from the disease, "he said. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO. "We recognize that we have to do something different – now. So today we are launching a country-based plan to take comprehensive action against malaria by making our work more effective where it matters most, at the local level. "
Where malaria hits hardest
In 2017, about 70% of malaria cases (151 million) and deaths (274,000) were concentrated in 11 countries: 10 in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania) and in India. In 2017, an additional 3.5 million cases of malaria were reported in these 10 African countries compared to the previous year, while India has nevertheless made progress in reducing its burden of disease.
Despite a slight increase in the distribution and use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets in sub-Saharan Africa, the main malaria prevention tool, the report highlights major gaps in coverage.
In 2017, about half of the people at risk in Africa did not sleep under treated mosquito nets. In addition, fewer outbreaks are protected by indoor residual spraying than before and access to preventive treatments protecting pregnant women and children from malaria remains too low.
High impact response needed
In line with WHO's strategic vision to intensify activities to protect the health of the population, the newHigh impact load"An intervention plan has been launched to help countries with the highest number of malaria cases and deaths. This response follows a call by Dr. Tedros at the World Health Assembly in May 2018 for a new aggressive approach to revive the fight against malaria. It is based on four pillars:
- Attract national and global political attention to reduce the number of deaths from malaria;
- Generate impact through the strategic use of information;
- Establish the best global policies, policies and strategies for all malaria endemic countries; and
- Implement a coordinated response by country.
Catalysted by the WHO and the RBM Malaria Partnership, the slogan "A heavy burden for high impact" is based on the principle that no one should die from an easily diagnosable and preventable disease that is fully curable. with available treatments.
"There is no calm with malaria. The latest report on malaria in the world shows that further progress is not inevitable and that the status quo is no longer an option, "said Dr. Kesete Admasu, CEO of the RBM Partnership. "The new country-led response will revive the new aggressive efforts to control malaria in the most-affected countries and will be crucial to getting back on track to tackle one of the most pressing health problems we face." . "
Objectives set by the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 reduce the incidence of malaria cases and mortality rates of at least 40% by 2020 is not on track to be achieved.
Pockets of progress
The report highlights positive progress. The number of countries approaching the elimination continues to grow (46 in 2017 against 37 in 2010). At the same time, in China and El Salvador, countries where malaria has been endemic for a long time, no local malaria transmission was reported in 2017, evidence that intensive country-led control efforts can reduce the incidence of malaria. the risks of people with the disease.
In 2018, WHO certified Paraguay as a malaria-free country, the first country in the Americas to have achieved this status in 45 years. Three other countries – Algeria, Argentina and Uzbekistan – have applied for official WHO certification without malaria.
India – a country that accounts for 4% of the global malaria burden – registered a 24% reduction in the number of cases in 2017 compared to 2016. Also in Rwanda, 436,000 fewer cases were recorded in 2017 compared to 2016. Ethiopia and Pakistan both recorded a net decrease. over
240,000 during the same period.
"When countries prioritize the fight against malaria, we see the results in lives saved and fewer cases," said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for malaria. Africa. "WHO and its global malaria partners will continue to strive to help governments, especially those with the greatest burden, to scale up the response to malaria."
Domestic financing is the key
While reductions in malaria cases and deaths are slowing, funding for the global response has also stabilized, with US $ 3.1 billion available for control and elimination programs in 2017 , of which 900 million USD (28%) governments of malaria endemic countries. The United States of America remains the largest international donor, contributing $ 1.2 billion (39%) in 2017.
To meet the 2030 targets of the Global Malaria Strategy, investments in this area are expected to reach at least $ 6.6 billion per year by 2020, more than double the amount available today. hui.
[ad_2]
Source link
