Malaria intervention campaigns on track despite COVID-19 threat

HEALTH

Over 90% of life-saving malaria intervention campaigns scheduled for this year are on track across Africa, Asia and America, new data has confirmed. 

According to Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership to End Malaria, ongoing campaigns have contributed to saving more than 7 million lives and preventing over 1 billion new malaria infections since 2000. 

This Includes distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying, as well as preventative treatments for children and pregnant women. 

In April, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to double malaria deaths in 2020 due to severe disruptions to essential malaria programmes.  

In response, malaria-affected countries, in collaboration with global malaria partners, mobilized to safely deliver life-saving malaria interventions. 

In Uganda, the Ministry of Health in June at Butanda Health Centre III in Kabale district rolled out the new Larviciding intervention to fight the spread of malaria in Uganda. 

The Minister of health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, explained that using the larvicide insecticide, mosquitoes are targeted and eliminated at the larval stage to stop the spread of Malaria. 

Also, in June at the National Medical Stores warehouse in Entebbe, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Diana Atwine flagged the mosquito net distribution campaign starting with districts with the highest prevalence dubbed "Under the net" to distribute 27 million mosquito nets. 

Malaria is the leading, most widespread and serious communicable disease in Uganda, posing a major public health problem. It is endemic in approximately 95% of the country 

"Despite the unprecedented challenges faced, it is a remarkable achievement that countries and their partners around the world have successfully sustained planned malaria efforts - including distributing record numbers of insecticide-treated nets and continuing the march to zero malaria - ensuring that communities remain protected from the deadly mosquito bite," says Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria. 

Over 200 million long-lasting insecticide treated nets are on track to be distributed this year in over 30 nations that had planned them for 2020. 

Countries that in recent years either reached or are on the verge of reaching zero malaria cases also are maintaining their focus on eliminating this preventable and treatable disease. 

However, even with the remarkable actions taken by countries, malaria cases and mortality are expected to rise this year.

Key risk factors include disruptions in access to health services, including treatment seeking at health care facilities, and in the delivery of key malaria commodities. 

According to RBM Partnership to End Malaria, It is essential that these campaigns and routine community-level interventions are not disrupted to avoid a surge in malaria cases, especially in Africa, a continent which accounts for over 90% of the global malaria burden. 

"During this pandemic and beyond, essential malaria services must continue, malaria patients must be protected from other health threats, and health must receive adequate attention and funding. We must collaborate, invest in what works, and continue to do all we can to protect the most vulnerable," says Wendy Morton British Foreign Office Minister. 

The status of the global malaria fight was a focus of the high-level virtual event Zero Malaria Challenge: How the lessons of the past can inspire progress to end malaria, held under the leadership of the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya in his capacity as Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance.