IGAD/WHO- Lina Mwamachi
World Health Organization WHO, Director For Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, during world malaria day 2024, noted that Malaria has been a priority health problem in the African region over the past decades. In his speech, Matshidiso noted that Malaria remains a leading cause of illness, hospital admissions, and deaths, especially in young children and pregnant women.
Since 2000, the world has mobilized more than US$50 billion to support malaria control and elimination efforts, and as a result, 2.1 billion malaria cases and 11.7 million malaria deaths were averted in the period 2000–2022. This investment reduced the malaria mortality rate by half, from about 29 deaths per 100 000 population at risk in 2000 to 14.3 in 2022—despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
We’ve recorded milestones toward malaria elimination; Cabo Verde was recently certified in January 2024, after Algeria in 2017. In 2023, WHO approved the second malaria vaccine, R21/MatrixM, after RTS,S in 2021. Both vaccines will be rolled out in 19 countries in the African region this year; they’ll provide new hope for hundreds of thousands of children at risk of dying from malaria.
As countries make progress, families are yielding dividends in terms of well-being.
Furthermore, he called on the governments of the Member States, affected communities, and partners to keep investing in malaria control and build resilient health systems while strengthening primary health care to ensure that quality services are available to all. He also urged countries to develop surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems to generate reliable and sub-national data to target interventions and adapt services to the most at-risk groups, accelerating progress toward achieving the SDGs, while strongly stating that, Together, we can accelerate our efforts to get back on track and achieve a malaria-free Africa.
Elsewhere as the world observed World Malaria Day, on April 26th, 2024, which serves as a moment to reflect on the ongoing efforts to eradicate malaria, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) renewed its commitment to fighting this preventable yet devastating disease in the region.
Although every day counts in the fight against malaria, World Malaria Day offers an opportunity to acknowledge the progress made so far, the challenges that remain, and the innovative solutions that give hope for a malaria-free future. Since 2018, IGAD has made significant strides in the fight against malaria. This dedication is reflected in the integration of malaria prevention and control activities within the IGAD Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (2018-2025). Recognizing the importance of collaboration, IGAD has fostered strong partnerships with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) to secure vital resources for the region.
In order to ensure effective coordination and implementation, IGAD established a regional Technical Working Group (TWG) and a Steering Committee. These entities play a critical role in guiding and overseeing regional malaria control efforts, while a comprehensive regional malaria assessment was conducted, in order to understand the specific challenges faced by IGAD member states. This assessment, along with a cross-border Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) that included malaria, provided invaluable data to tailor malaria control strategies.
IGAD, cites that, Resource mobilization remains a significant hurdle in coordinating and implementing effective malaria prevention and control programs, particularly in hard-to-reach areas and along critical borders. IGAD is committed to exploring innovative solutions to combat malaria. A key initiative is the establishment of sentinel surveillance centers for malaria at border points, refugee camps, and migrant settlements. These centers will provide real-time data on malaria prevalence, allowing for targeted interventions and ultimately, the eradication of the disease in the IGAD region. However, during observing of Malaria day, IGAD urged all stakeholders to join the fight against this preventable disease. By working together, to ensure a future free from malaria for all citizens of the IGAD region.
