World Malaria Report 2021
Recently the “World Malaria Report 2021” has been released by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This report assesses the actions taken by countries to prevent malaria in the backdrop of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Key findings
- In 85 malaria endemic countries, an estimated 241 million cases of malaria were reported in 2020, compared to 227 million in 2019.
- India was the only country with a high malaria burden to record progress in maintaining the reduction in malaria cases between 2019 and 2020.
- Malaria is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. In the year 2020, about 95% of all malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths were related to this region.
About malaria prevention:
- The “WHO Global Malaria Program” (GMP) is responsible for coordinating WHO’s global efforts to control and eliminate malaria.
- Its actions are guided by the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (2016-2030). It was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015. It has been updated in the year 2021.
- The Global Technological Strategy (GTS) sets a target to reduce global malaria cases and related mortality by at least 90% by 2030.
Steps taken by India include –
National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination, 2017; National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) including malaria; Malaria Eradication Research Coalition-India (MY-India/MERA-India) etc.
About malaria:
It is a deadly mosquito-borne blood disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite. This parasite is transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Source – The Hindu
