World Malaria Day

“Defeating malaria is absolutely critical to ending poverty, improving the health of millions, and enabling future generations to reach their full potential.”- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Malaria is transmitted through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito. Nearly half of the world’s population is at risk. World Malaria Day is held each year on April 25th. This annual event is a worldwide effort, to raise awareness of Malaria and funds for the treatment and prevention of malaria. The day is set aside to highlight the need for better political intervention in malaria control and prevention. The day also marks the continuing great achievements in the fight against Malaria. The theme this year is “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”. What is Malaria? According to the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, and flu-like illness. Four kinds of malaria parasites infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae. In addition, P. knowlesi, a type of malaria that naturally infects macaques in Southeast Asia, also infects humans, causing malaria that is transmitted from animal to human (“zoonotic” malaria). P. falciparum is the type of malaria that is most likely to result in severe infections and if not promptly treated, may lead to death. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, illness and death from malaria can usually be prevented. About 2,000 cases of malaria are diagnosed in the United States each year. The vast majority of cases in the United States are in travelers and immigrants returning from parts of the world where malaria transmission occurs, including sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Symptoms and Diagnosis The symptoms of Malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells. If not promptly treated, the infection can become severe and may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death. Malaria in the Caribbean The island of Hispaniola, which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic, is the only island in the Caribbean where Malaria is still endemic. In 2014 there were approximately 17,000 confirmed cases of malaria in Haiti. The disease has an especially negative impact on Haiti’s already fragile economy, intensifying poverty and decreasing productivity. In 2014, there were approximately 500 cases of malaria in the Dominican Republic. World Malaria Report According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s World Malaria Report 2022, the funding gap between the amount invested in the global malaria response (US$ 3.5 billion) and the resources needed (US$ 7.3 billion) has widened, particularly over the past 3 years increasing from a shortfall of US$ 2.6 billion in 2019 to US$ 3.5 billion in 2020 and US$ 3.8 billion in 2021. Despite the significant contributions of countries and partners, the Seventh Global Fund replenishment raised US$ 15.7 billion against an expected target of at least US$ 18 billion. With the changing economic environment, the funding space for the malaria response has become increasingly challenging. The WHO adds that in this resource-constrained environment, a better targeting of available funding is essential. Funding should be prioritized for the most vulnerable populations who are less able to access services and are hardest hit when they become ill. Adequate and predictable financing is essential to sustain progress in efforts to combat malaria. The global death toll of 400,000 people to malaria every year is a cause for concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to be at the fore in their prevention efforts to reduce the death toll from malaria, targetting mosquitoes, especially through the use of insecticide and mosquito nets, as mosquitoes are the most common carriers and spreaders of malaria. The continued campaign of prevention is proving effective and saving lives, but there is still a long way to go. There were some 247 million new cases of malaria in 2021 compared to 245 million in 2020. The WHO African Region continues to shoulder the heaviest burden of the disease – accounting, in 2021, for an estimated 95% of all malaria cases (234 million) and 96% of all deaths (593 000). Nearly 80% of malaria deaths in the African Region were among children under the age of 5. Vulnerable Populations The WHO states that malaria disproportionately affects the most marginalized populations in society, including the rural poor, pregnant women, children, migrants, refugees, religious minorities and indigenous people. Children in the poorest households are 5 times more likely to be infected with malaria. Malaria is also more prevalent among young children whose mothers have a lower level of education and live in rural areas. Reaching these populations with malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment is a critical strategy for achieving global malaria targets and delivering on the promise of “zero malaria.” Implement Malaria-affected countries and partners are strongly encouraged to deliver the WHO-recommended tools and strategies that are available now for all at risk of malaria – and particularly those most vulnerable. According to the latest World malaria report, countries have made some progress in expanding access to malaria services for most-at-risk populations. However, too many people at high risk of malaria are still missing out on the services they need to prevent, detect and treat the disease. Challenges in expanding access to malaria services have been compounded, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, converging humanitarian crises, restricted funding, weak surveillance systems, and declines in the effectiveness of core malaria-fighting tools. To address these threats and support countries in building more resilient malaria programmes, WHO recently published new guidance, strategies and frameworks. WHO has also increased the transparency, flexibility and access to its malaria recommendations. In addition to addressing the technical challenges facing implementation, there is a critical need to address the barriers people face in accessing quality health services. Investments in well-functioning health systems, built on a foundation of primary health care, can address people’s health needs close to where they live and work while, at the same time, reducing the cost of care and enhancing equity. On this World Malaria Day the international community must speak with one voice. In order to win the fight against Malaria, governments worldwide must work with the medical community to arrive at practical and cost –effective solutions in order to rid humanity of this scourge which has the potential to negatively impact sustainable development. We must also be mindful of the strategies for preventing malaria such as preventing mosquito bites, for example, by using insect repellant and covering the arms and legs, taking antimalarial tablets when traveling to an area where malaria occurs, administering the vaccine to children who live in places where malaria is endemic. The global community needs to arrive at a place of zero tolerance against Malaria. In the words of Tu Youyou, malaria has long been a devastating and life-threatening global epidemic disease in human history. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #MalariaDay