World Health Assembly Adopts New Resolution to End Malaria

What is the News? The 74th World Health Assembly(WHA) has adopted a new resolution to end malaria. It will accelerate efforts towards this aim.

About the Resolution to End Malaria:

• The resolution is led by the United States of America and Zambia.
• The aim of the resolution is to urge the Member States to step up progress on containing the disease. It is in line with WHO’s updated global malaria strategy and the WHO Guidelines for malaria.
• The resolution called on countries to expand investment, scale-up funding for a global response. Also, it will boost investment in the research and development of new tools.

About WHOs Global Malaria Program:

• The WHO Global Malaria Program is responsible for coordinating WHO’s global efforts to control and eliminate malaria.
• The work of the program is guided by the “Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030”.

Global Technical Strategy for malaria 2016–2030

• The WHO’s global technical strategy was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2015.
• Aim: The strategy provides a technical framework for all malaria-endemic countries working towards malaria control and elimination.
• Targets: Its global targets for 2030 include:
  • Reducing malaria case incidence by at least 90%.
  • Reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90%.
  • Eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries.
  • Preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free.

About Malaria:

• Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• The disease claims more than 400,000 lives annually. In 2019, the world reported an estimated 229 million cases of malaria and 409,000 deaths.
• However, an estimated 6 million deaths and 1.5 billion cases had been averted since 2000. But the global gains in combating malaria have leveled off in recent years.

Source: Down To Earth