“WE CAN DEFEAT MALARIA”, WORLD MALARIA DAY CELEBRATED

By Victor Kanguya,

Malaria kills one child every 30 seconds, about 3000 children every day. Over one million people die from malaria each year, mostly children under the age of five, with 90 percent of malaria cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. With such developments the world had to respond. In 2007 the World Malaria Day was instituted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) member states during the World Health Assembly. The theme for this year’s World Malaria Day which falls today, 25^th April 2013 is invest in the future, defeat Malaria.

World Malaria Day was established to provide education and understanding of Malaria. It is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for Malaria prevention and control. This day is also viewed as an opportunity for international partners, companies and foundations to showcase their efforts and reflect on how to further scale up interventions against combating Malaria. The World Health Organisation and other partners are calling upon the world to invest in the Malaria fight as this is the major step to eradicating this disease.

Despite Malaria being a preventable and curable disease it has continued to be one of the major causes of death in the world, particularly among Women and Children. Approximately half of the world’s population is at risk of Malaria, most of the cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2010, Malaria caused an estimated 660,000 deaths (with an uncertainty range of 490,000 to 836,000), mostly among African Children. Malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25 percent globally since 2000 and by 33 percent in the World Health Organisation WHO African Region.

Of all people who die from Malaria in Zambia, 50 percent or more are children under the age of five years. Though Zambia has made strides in Malaria prevention and control in the last five years, it still kills more Children under the age of five than any other illness. Malaria affects more than 4 million Zambians annually, accounting for approximately 30 percent of outpatient visits and resulting in almost 8,000 deaths each year. Under five Children and pregnant Women are the most vulnerable, especially those in remote and impoverished areas, with 35-50 percent of under five mortality attributable to Malaria. Poor health seeking behaviour among communities is another challenge related to low awareness about Malaria.

Speaking during the launch of 2013 World Malaria Day, Minister of Health, Dr Joseph Kasonde said government is committed to reducing Malaria in the country. This is why the government has initiated various programmes such as encouraging pregnant women to attend Antenatal, distribution of mosquito nets, indoor and outdoor spraying.

If the world is to maintain and accelerate progress against Malaria, in line with the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6, and to ensure attainment of MDG 4 and 5, more funds are urgently required. Malaria prevention and treatment is expensive. Only over the last five years, as a result of partnership between the Government of Zambia, the World Health Organisation WHO, UNICEF and other partners have made the plight of treating Malaria affordable for most Zambians. In order to fight Malaria measures such as the distribution of subsidized nets Insecticide-treated Nets (INTs) are now widely available, but need still outstrips supply. Currently 64 percent of households in Zambia own at least one INT.

Combating Malaria is vitally important in the battle to save young lives and protect Children from losing their Mothers. Since 2000 Malaria mortality rates have fallen more than 25 percent, and 50 of the 99 countries with ongoing transmission are now on track to meet the 2015 World Health Assembly target of reducing incidence rates by more than 75 percent. If the world is to halt Malaria, there is need concerted efforts and self prevention among the public.     The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.