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NEWS REVIEWS

WHO LEADS NEW CAMPAIGN

TO IMPROVE PREVENTION AND

TREATMENT OF MALARIA

The World Health Organisation in 11 countries: 10 in Africa (Burkina political attention to reduce
(WHO) and partners have launched Faso, Cameroon, Democratic malaria deaths;
a new country-led response to Republic of the Congo, Ghana, • Driving impact through the
increase investment and scale up Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, strategic use of information;
prevention and treatment of malaria. Uganda and Tanzania) and India. • Establishing best global
There were 3.5 million more malaria guidance, policies and
For the second consecutive year, cases reported in these 10 African strategies suitable for all
the annual report produced by WHO countries in 2017 compared to the malaria endemic countries; and
reveals a plateauing in numbers of previous year, while India, however, • Implementing a coordinated
people affected by malaria. In 2017, showed progress in reducing its country response.
there were an estimated 219 million disease burden.
cases of malaria, compared to 217 Catalysed by WHO and the RBM
million the year before. But in the Despite marginal increases in recent Partnership to End Malaria, “High
years prior, the number of people years in the distribution and use of burden to high impact” builds on
contracting malaria globally had insecticide-treated bed nets in sub- the principle that no one should die
been steadily falling, from 239 million Saharan Africa – the primary tool from a disease that can be easily
in 2010 to 214 million in 2015. for preventing malaria – the report prevented and diagnosed, and that
highlights major coverage gaps. In is entirely curable with available
“Nobody should die from malaria. 2017, an estimated half of at-risk treatments.
But the world faces a new reality: as people in Africa did not sleep under
progress stagnates, we are at risk of a treated net. Also, fewer homes are “There is no standing still with
squandering years of toil, investment being protected by indoor residual malaria. The latest World malaria
and success in reducing the number spraying than before, and access report shows that further progress is
of people suffering from the disease,” to preventive therapies that protect not inevitable and that business as
said WHO Director-General, Dr pregnant women and children from usual is no longer an option,” said
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. malaria remains too low. CEO of the RBM Partnership, Dr
Kesete Admasu.
“We recognise we have to do The new country-driven “High burden
something different – now. So we to high impact” response plan has “The new country-led response will
are launching a country-focused been launched to support nations jumpstart aggressive new malaria
and -led plan to take comprehensive with most malaria cases and deaths. control efforts in the highest burden
action against malaria by making our The response follows a call made countries and will be crucial to get
work more effective where it counts by Dr Ghebreyesus at the World back on track with fighting one of
most – at local level,” continued Dr Health Assembly in May 2018 for an the most pressing health challenges
Ghebreyesus. aggressive new approach to jump- we face,” continued Dr Admasu.
start progress against malaria. It is
In 2017, approximately 70% of all based on the following pillars: The 2018 report also highlights
malaria cases (151 million) and
deaths (274,000) were concentrated • Galvanizing national and global 33

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