Chijioke Iremeka
The World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, says despite numerous interventions to eliminate malaria in Africa, the disease coverage remains significantly below the target.
She made this remark during her speech to commemorate the 2024 World Malaria Day.
WMD is an international observance held annually on April 25, to acknowledge global efforts to control malaria.
According to Moeti, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria, while the disease caused an estimated 627,000 deaths globally, mostly among African children in 2012.
She noted that to date, 35 African countries have adopted intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant women with an estimated 42 per cent of pregnant women at risk of malaria receiving three doses of the preventive therapy.
Moeti noted that despite this progress, malaria coverage remains well below the target of 80 per cent, adding that malaria has been a priority health challenge in the African region over the past decades.
She said, “Malaria remains a leading cause of illness, hospital admissions, and deaths, especially in young children and pregnant women. We appreciate the progress made over the last two decades.
“Since 2000, the world has mobilised more than US$50 billion to support malaria control and elimination efforts, and as a result, 2.1 billion malaria cases and 11.7 million malaria deaths were averted in the period 2000–2022.
“This investment reduced the malaria mortality rate by half, from about 29 deaths per 100,000 population at risk in 2000 to 14.3 in 2022, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. We have recorded milestones toward malaria elimination; Cabo Verde was recently certified in January 2024, after Algeria in 2017.
“In 2023, WHO approved the second malaria vaccine, R21/MatrixM, after RTS,S in 2021. Both vaccines will be rolled out in 19 countries in the African region this year; they will provide new hope for hundreds of thousands of children at risk of dying from malaria.”
She noted that as countries make progress, families are yielding dividends in terms of well-being, adding, “However, the African region has reached a crossroads in controlling the disease: 20 of the most affected countries that contribute more than 85 per cent of cases and deaths are in our region.
“Multiple challenges account for this, such as extreme weather events, conflict and humanitarian crises, resource constraints, biological threats, and inequities.
“With the international community, we commemorate this 17th WMD under the theme: ‘Advancing health equity, gender equality and human rights.’
“This year’s theme highlights the need to ensure continuous and equitable delivery of malaria services to all who need them despite funding constraints, ensuring adequate coverage of the most vulnerable and at-risk populations with effective interventions.”
According to her, the last World Malaria Report demonstrated how malaria disproportionately affects vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant women, rural communities, and displaced populations.
She noted that infants and young children represent about 80 per cent of the mortality, while studies showed that children under the age of five from the poorest households in sub-Saharan Africa are five times more likely to be infected with malaria than those from the wealthiest households.
Moeti added that other high-risk groups have been identified in some areas, such as refugees, migrants, and internally displaced populations.
“In 2019-2022, 41 malaria-endemic countries suffered humanitarian and health emergencies and about 258 million people needed assistance because of health and humanitarian emergencies in 2022 alone,” she said.
Meanwhile, Zambian Health Minister, Sylvia Masebo, said Malaria remains a major public health concern in Zambia despite interventions against it.
She noted that the country recorded a 37 per cent spike in malaria cases to 11.1 million in 2023, from 8.1 million the previous year, while malaria-related deaths rose to 1,602 in 2023 from 1,343 in 2022.
Speaking ahead of the WMD celebrations, the Minister said, “Every day, 30,400 of our people got infected with malaria, and four people die from malaria.”
Masebo said that 18 per cent of the infections were in children under the age of five years, and one per cent was pregnant women.
She said despite the gloomy picture, Zambia has an opportunity to change the situation through collaborative efforts with all stakeholders.
The Minister said that in addressing malaria, the government has distributed over 11.6 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets across the country, while 742,057 eligible structures have been sprayed through an in-door spraying programme.
The government, she added, has continued to strengthen community systems through training and empowering community health workers and other community-based volunteers.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: health_wise@punchng.com
The post Malaria coverage in Africa remains below 80% target appeared first on Healthwise.