Deaths from malaria are unacceptable – WHO

The statement was made on Monday, April 24, by the Director of WHO’s Global Malaria Programme, Dr. Pedro Alonso in anticipation of World Malaria Day on April 25.

“Any death from malaria – a preventable and treatable disease – is simply unacceptable,” Alonso said.

“Today we are urging countries and partners to accelerate the pace of action, especially in low-income countries with a high malaria burden,” he added.

According to the World Malaria Report 2016, the rate of new malaria cases fell by 21% globally between 2010 and 2015. Malaria death rates fell by 29% in the same 5-year period. In sub-Saharan Africa, case incidence and death rates fell by 21% and 31%, respectively.

In recent years, seven countries have been certified as having eliminated malaria: United Arab Emirates (2007), Morocco (2010), Turkmenistan (2010), Armenia (2011), Maldives (2015), Sri Lanka (2016) and Kyrgyzstan (2016).

This certification is granted by WHO when countries achieve at least three consecutive years of zero locally-acquired cases of malaria.

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WHO said future progress in the fight to prevent malaria will likely be shaped by technological advances and innovations in new tools, including new vector control interventions, and possibly a vaccine.