WHO, Global Fund, foundation urge more support against malaria

[TGD]

 AS part of efforts to mark this year's World Malaria Day today, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Global Fund and the Better Society Foundation (TBSF) have urged greater global devotion to end the scourge.

Moreover, the WHO alerted on growing threat of emerging resistant strains of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and the vector, female anopheles mosquito, which make treatment and control difficult.

WHO will Thursday launch an emergency response to artemisinin resistance in the Greater Mekong sub-region at an event hosted in Phnom Penh by the Cambodian Minister of Health.

Also, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Thursday warned that a resurgence of malaria might occur unless increased funding is provided to expand efforts to control the disease.

Experts warned that a decline in anti-malarial efforts could quickly allow a return to pre-2000 levels of mortality, when 1.2 million people died from malaria.

In the same vein, the Better Society Foundation (TBSF) has called on governments, particularly of disease-prevalent countries, to show more financial commitment to global efforts at controlling malaria in order to bring it to an end.

According to the WHO, the framework identifies four priority areas where action is needed in the coming years to contain artemisinin resistance and move towards elimination of malaria: reach all at-risk groups with full coverage of quality interventions in priority areas; achieve tighter coordination and management of field operations; better information for artemisinin resistance containment; and strengthen regional oversight and support.

Global Fund said that new advances in science and implementation have given the global community the opportunity to control malaria and remove it as a threat to global health.

It noted that despite promising advances in recent years, such as declining AIDS and TB mortality and a sharp increase in the use of insecticide-treated nets, Nigeria faces serious health challenges. Over the last 12 months, Nigeria and the Global Fund signed agreements worth a total of US$ 560 million (N92.4 billion) to support programmes that will help significantly expand prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the three diseases.

Speaking yesterday, the Executive Director of the Global Fund, Mark Dybul, said that commitment is needed by all partners in the fight against malaria to expand and intensify efforts, so it can be transformed from a worldwide killer into a manageable and treatable disease.

Dybul added: "We can defeat malaria if we work together. We have a chance to control it and sharply reduce the number of children who die from it each year. If we don't act decisively, we will be counting the cost for generations."

The TBSF is collaborating in the Invest in the future; Defeat Malaria theme for this year.

According to the Executive Director of the non-governmental, TBSF, Ade Dare, partners have chosen the next three years "to draw attention to the big push required to achieve the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and defeat malaria in the future."

However: "Today's gains against malaria are increasingly threatened by a shortfall in funding. It is critically important that we stay on course. Malaria resurgence will remain a persistent threat until the disease is eradicated altogether. We need to keep up the momentum but more importantly, hold the gains."

According to a statement made available to The Guardian, "$4.4 billion has been mobilised from international partners and African governments to make vital interventions such as mosquito nets, rapid diagnostic tests and medicines available in Africa over the next three years.

The World Malaria Day was instituted by WHO member-states during the 2007 World Health Assembly and is held every year on April 25. This year, WHO highlights the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for global malaria prevention and control.

Huge progress has been made against malaria over the past decade, driven by simple scientific advances like mosquito nets treated with insecticide, quicker diagnostic tests and more effective antimalarial drugs. Better implementation, in programmes supported by the Global Fund, has led to the distribution of more than 310 million nets, far broader access to rapid diagnostic tests and treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy.

Earlier this month, the Global Fund announced a target of raising US$15 billion for the 2014 to 2016 period. When combined with other sources of funding, that will enable global partners to have a transformative effect on AIDS, TB and malaria.

For malaria, resources would be targeted to achieve universal coverage of insecticide-treated nets and access to effective treatment in the 18 highest-burden countries, where most malaria deaths occur.



The Guardian