The global estimate in the year 2021 accounts for 228 million malaria cases and over 600,000 malaria deaths occurred in 2020, even as the WHO African Region are accounted for 95% of cases and deaths globally.
This Nigeria is not left out, as it joins the rest of the world to commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day with the theme “Advance Equity. Build Resilience. End Malaria” with a national slogan of “Every effort counts”, in Abuja.
At the commemoration, the world health organization country representative in Nigeria Dr. Walter Molumbo said for fifteen years there has been little or no progress for malaria eradication hence the need for government at all levels and communities to work closely with development partners to advance the country’s elimination strategies especially as it is drawing close to the Sustainable Development Goals declaration.
He further pledges the organization’s determination to continue partnering with all stakeholders in the Malaria Elimination Programme to achieve the implementation of the National goals.
“This year, the World Health Organization is highlighting the critical role of innovation in the fight against malaria, “Harness innovation to reduce the global malaria disease burden and save lives.
I believe that collaboratively, we can “Advance Equity. Build Resilience. End Malaria” and let us remember, “Every effort count.
The use of the first vaccine against malaria – RTS,S – was released by WHO late last year.
This vaccine will be used to prevent malaria among children aged six months to five years, who live in moderate- to high-transmission settings.
While this is a groundbreaking advancement in the development of new tools to fight this disease, with the potential to save millions of lives, supplies are currently limited. As such, it is important to ensure that the doses that are available are utilized for maximum impact while ensuring the continued availability of other preventive measures to those most at risk.
The High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) approach to rethinking malaria provided the right impetus for the current malaria strategic plan. It provides a clear direction toward using stratified and evidence-based information to drive impact
Through this effort, Seasonal malaria chemoprevention has been scaled up in 21 states while deploying other stratified approaches for maximum impact. We must, however, not lose sight of the potential effect of drug and insecticide resistance, as these can reverse the gains that had been made.”
