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The WHO Regional director ,Dr Matshidiso Moeti is calling on all African countries to allocate more resources and strengthen cross Border collaboration to achieve a malaria free Africa .
While also seeking for accelerated progress to achieve a 40% drop in global Malaria cases and deaths by 2020,compared to 2015 levels .
She made the disclosure in an address which was read by the WHO country representative in Nigeria ,Dr Wondi Alemu ,while briefing journalist in Abuja .
According to the WHO regional director,World malaria day is an occasion to renew political commitment and investment for malaria prevention and control .
“We are calling on all African countries affected by Malaria to work with development partners to boost investment in malaria prevention and control ,especially new tools to combat malaria ”
“It will propel countries along the road to elimination to continue in contributing to the achievement of other sustainable development goals ,such as improving maternal and child health .
Dr Moeti further hinted that countries in African region also recorded the biggest rise of malaria testing in the public sector ,from 36% of suspected cases in 2010 to 87% in 2016 .
“Five countries in the region (Ethiopia ,Madagascar,Senegal ,Gambia ,and Zimbabwe,)are among 16 global countries that witnessed a decrease in malaria cases and deaths by more than 20% over 2015 and 2016”
While speaking on the role of insecticides treated nets in combating malaria ,Alemu said “over half of the people , at risk of Malaria across sub Saharan Africa have been sleeping under insecticides treated nets for the past give years indicating some success in behavior change ,and outreach campaigns ”
The regional director also stated that many countries are not on track to achieve the target of the global technical strategy for malaria .
“The pace of progress has slowed down ,with significant gaps in the implementation of measures to prevent malaria .International and domestic funding for malaria prevention and control has stagnated ”
Speaking further he said Nigeria has made considerable progress in the fight against malaria ,with the introduction of Artemisinin based combination therapy ,with no major reaction to the drug.
“We found out that ACTS therapy is more functional and effective in treating malaria than chloroquine tablets ,which is no longer advised for malaria treatment ”
The world malaria day is celebrated on the 25th of April ,and it focuses global attention on malaria ,and it’s devastating impact on families ,communities ,and development .
The theme of this year’s celebration ,”Ready to beat malaria “stresses the need to accelerate efforts to beat malaria .
Countries have made commitment to end malaria epidermic by 2030,as one of the sustainable development goals .
