Today, 25 April 2014, we commemorate World Malaria Day under the theme "Invest in the future: Defeat malaria." This theme is a rallying call for increased investment to accelerate action to defeat malaria.
The WHO African Region continues to bear the brunt of the global burden of malaria. In 2012, 80% of the estimated 207 million malaria cases worldwide were in the African Region. In the same year, 90% of the estimated 627 000 global malaria deaths occurred in Africa. Malaria continues to have a severe socioeconomic impact on our populations. It is one of the causes of household poverty because it results in absenteeism from the daily activities of productive living and income generation. Malaria also continues to prevent many school children from attending school due to illness, diminishing their capacity to realise their full potential.
The last decade witnessed unprecedented progress in malaria prevention and control in the African Region. Between the years 2000 and 2012, malaria mortality rates among children under-five years of age declined by 54 %. During the same period, malaria death rates decreased by 49% in the population and by 54% among children under-five years of age. Notwithstanding these gains, much more needs to be done to sustain these gains and accelerate progress towards achieving national and regional malaria targets.
In this regard, the role of communities and individuals cannot be over-emphasized. In many countries of the Region, ministries of health, civil society organizations and other stakeholders are bringing malaria prevention and treatment services closer and closer to the doorsteps of the people. Communities and individuals need to take full advantage of this positive development by reporting malaria symptoms early enough to health facilities to facilitate timely diagnosis using rapid diagnostic tests and the provision of appropriate treatment using safe and effective medicines. In the area of prevention, communities and individuals are encouraged to use Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets and pregnant women and children are advised to take the necessary prophylaxis against malaria.
WHO will continue to work with Member States and partners to mainstream malaria control in health and development policies and plans, carry out advocacy for increased mobilization of domestic and external funding, and provide guidance regarding appropriate malaria control policies and interventions including empowering communities in malaria control.
I call upon governments, parliamentarians, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, civil society groups and faith-based organizations to support community-based efforts and mobilize the financial and human resources needed to make quality medicines and commodities accessible and affordable to all exposed communities so that malaria will be defeated.
We must all ensure that our people have adequate access to cost-effective malaria interventions for prevention and treatment, including access to safe and quality medicines, diagnostics and other commodities.
We all need to “INVEST MORE IN THE FUTURE IN ORDER TO DEFEAT MALARIA”