world malaria day

World Malaria Day 2019 observed; Malawi launches world’s first malaria vaccine - Current Affairs Story 1: World Malaria Day 2019 observed globally 25 April: World Malaria Day The World Malaria Day was observed across the globe on April 25, 2019 to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment towards malaria prevention and control. According to WHO’s latest World Malaria Report, no significant efforts were made in reducing malaria cases during 2015 - 2017. The estimated number of malaria deaths in 2017 stood at 435000, no change over the previous year. Theme The theme of the World Malaria Day 2019 was “Zero malaria starts with me”. On the occasion of the World Malaria Day 2019, the WHO joined the ‘RBM Partnership to End Malaria’, the African Union Commission and other partner organisations in promoting the theme. The 2019 theme aims to keep malaria high on the political agenda, mobilise additional resources, and empower communities to take ownership of malaria prevention and care. Note: The RBM Partnership to End Malaria is the largest global platform for coordinated action towards a world free from malaria. It is comprised of over 500 partners. Malaria-free countries • In the recent years, the WHO had certified 7 countries as Malaria-free countries. These are - 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 3 consecutive years of zero locally-acquired cases of malaria. • In 2015, the WHO European Region achieved interruption of indigenous malaria transmission and was declared malaria-free in 2016. What is Malaria? Malaria is an infectious disease that is caused by mosquito-borne plasmodium parasite which infects the red blood cells. It is a curable and preventable. Common symptoms are fever, chills, vomiting, nausea, body ache, headache, cough and diarrhea. About World Malaria Day • The World Malaria Day is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognises global efforts to control malaria. • It is one of eight official global public health campaigns currently marked by the World Health Organisation). • The day was established in May 2007 by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly to provide education and understanding of malaria and spread information on year-long intensified implementation of national malaria-control strategies. Story 2: Malawi becomes first nation to vaccinate children against Malaria African country Malawi on April 24, 2019 became the first to immunise children against Malaria through the vaccine ‘RTS,S’ (Mosquirix) under the WHO-coordinated Malaria vaccine pilot programme. Malawi is also the first of three countries in Africa in which the vaccine RTS,S will be made available to children up to 2 years of age; Ghana and Kenya will introduce the vaccine later. The Malaria vaccine pilot programme is a collaborative effort with ministries of health in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi and international partners like PATH and the vaccine developer GSK. The programme aims to reach 360000 children every year across the three countries. Why launch of Malaria vaccine holds importance? Malaria remains one of the world’s leading killers, claiming the life of one child every two minutes. Most of the Malaria-caused deaths occur in Africa, where over 250000 children die from the disease every year. Children under 5 are at the greatest risk. Overall, malaria kills 435000 people a year worldwide, of which, most of them are children. However, till now, there was no vaccine for malaria. With the launch of the RTS,S vaccine, at least 120000 children in Malawi under 2 years of age will be injected for protection against the malaria parasite. 30 years in development of RTS,S vaccine It took thirty years for the scientists to develop the RTS,S vaccine that has demonstrated it can significantly reduce malaria in children. During the clinical trials, the vaccine proved to prevent around 4 in 10 malaria cases, including 3 in 10 cases of life-threatening severe malaria. The vaccine is a complementary malaria control tool that will be added to the package of WHO-recommended measures for malaria prevention, including the routine use of insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor spraying with insecticides, and the timely use of malaria testing and treatment. All about Malaria • Malaria is caused by a Plasmodium Parasites that is transmitted from one human to another by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. • In humans, the parasites (called sporozoites) migrate to the liver where they mature and release another form, the merozoites. • The majority of Malaria symptoms are caused by the massive release of merozoites into the bloodstream such as anaemia is caused by the destruction of the red blood cells. • There are five parasites that can cause Malaria in humans and the deadliest of all is Plasmodium Falciparum. • Children under the age of 5 and pregnant women are most susceptible to the disease. • More than 70 per cent or two thirds of total malaria deaths constitute children under the age of 5. • Early diagnosis followed by speedy treatment is of the utmost importance. 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