M. A. Jabbar :
As a member country of the World Health Organization, Bangladesh will observe World Malaria Day on 25 April like elsewhere in the globe. End malaria for good is the theme of the day this year which highlights the WHO strategies and policies to build a malaria-free world as agreed by the member countries in the 2016-2030 agenda.
WHO estimates released in December 2016 shows that there were 212 million cases of malaria in 2015 and the number of death cases were 429 000. However, WHO facts show that between 2010 and 2015, malaria incidence among populations at risk fell by 21% globally; during the same period, malaria mortality rates among populations at risk decreased by 29%. An estimated 6.8 million malaria deaths have been averted globally since 2001.
Yet, malaria is a life-threatening disease in many parts of the globe which is caused by parasites, transmitted to people through the bites of infected female anopheles mosquitoes. Experts says that symptoms of malaria include-fever, headache and vomiting and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bites. Experts say that if not treated timely malaria can quickly become life threatening by disrupting blood supply to the vital organs of the body.
Although malaria is declining in many parts of the globe, but as per WHO data in the sub-Saharan Africa the epidemic continues to carry high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was accounted for 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths. Some 13 countries – mainly in sub-Saharan Africa – account for 76% of malaria cases and 75% deaths globally.
How malaria is transmitted – the fact is that non-immune travelers from malaria-free areas are vulnerable to the disease when they are infected. Globalization, climate change and urbanization have great impact on transmission of the disease.
Malaria causes burden of illness and death for individual and families and socio-economic losses for the country. It causes school absenteeism, worsen poverty, cast negative impact on the economic productivity, responsible for high health costs and overload health system of the countries. They are most commonly found in tropical areas and places where access to safe drinking water and sanitation systems is problematic.
As such countries around the globe are working jointly to fight against the burden of malaria. Multiple strategies need to be adopted to reduce the burden of the disease. Increased malaria prevention and control measures can contribute towards reducing the burden. Renewed commitments from the Ministry of Health, regional and global health initiatives with the support from international organizations, NGOs and communities have impact to reduce the burden of the disease.
WHO is working closely with the member-states in a bid to eradicate malaria. The WHO global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030 adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015 provides a technical framework for all malaria-endemic countries. The purpose is to guide and support regional and country programmes as they work towards malaria control and elimination. The strategy includes reducing malaria case incidence at least 90 percent, malaria mortality rates 90, eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030 and preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free.
WHO Global Malaria Programme have adopted various strategies and policies to control and eliminate malaria through setting, communicating and promoting the adoption of evidence-based norms, standards, policies, technical strategies and guidelines, keeping independent score of global progress and developing approaches for capacity building, systems strengthening and surveillance and identifying threats to malaria control and elimination as well as new areas for action. All these activities have contributed to reduce the burden of malaria in many parts of the globe.
In fact, World Malaria Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the burden of the malaria. Malaria can be prevented by wearing long cloth that act as barrier to exposures to mosquito bites, using screen on doors and windows, removing water storage containers, cleaning drainages, eliminating woods in the garden and yards and keeping the environment neat and clean. There is no scope to deny that Malaria is an important health issue in Bangladesh. As such Bangladesh has taken the issue as a priority one. In view, Bangladesh is working with a vision for a malaria-free country. There are 13 highly endemic districts in Bangladesh which include Kagrachari, Banderban, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Chittagong, Sylhet, Sunamgonj, Moulvibazar, Hobiganj, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Netrokona and Kurigram. As per data 98 percent of total malaria cases are reported from these districts and total population at risk is about 10.9 million. Moreover, seasonal workers such as Jhum cultivators, forest goers are at high risk group as they need to stay overnight in open spaces in the forest and hills. Further border area population carries average high level of malaria due to migration to and from endemic areas of neighbouring countries. In order to avert the situation National Malaria Control Programme has drafted the National Strategy Plan 2015-2020 to achieve the target of malaria elimination zero case and zero death by 2020 in Bangladesh. This will be no doubt an effective programme towards creating a malaria-free Bangladesh for the welfare of the people of the country.
Bangladesh has already joined the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN) in order to intensify its malaria elimination efforts. It is worth to mention that ICDDR,B has played an important role in this regard. The network’s mission is to work jointly with regards to policy measures, advocacy, capacity building and exchange of knowledge to achieve the goal. With the full implementation of the Network’s aims and objectives, the dream of malaria-free Bangladesh will be materialized.
Wearing long cloths work as barrier to exposures to mosquito bites. Use of screen on doors and windows can help to remain free from mosquito bites. Removing water storage containers, cleaning drainages, eliminating woods in the garden and yards and keeping the environment neat and clean are some effective tools to eradicate malaria. Malaria control and prevention strategies need multiple strategies which also include interventions such as use of insecticides, mosquito nets and indoor spraying and diagnostic tests in addition to treatment of confirmed cases with anti-malarial medicines. Mass awareness is necessary to build malaria-free Bangladesh.
(M.A. Jabbar is banker and executive secretary of ADHUNIK, national anti-tobacco organization of Bangladesh.)
As a member country of the World Health Organization, Bangladesh will observe World Malaria Day on 25 April like elsewhere in the globe. End malaria for good is the theme of the day this year which highlights the WHO strategies and policies to build a malaria-free world as agreed by the member countries in the 2016-2030 agenda.
WHO estimates released in December 2016 shows that there were 212 million cases of malaria in 2015 and the number of death cases were 429 000. However, WHO facts show that between 2010 and 2015, malaria incidence among populations at risk fell by 21% globally; during the same period, malaria mortality rates among populations at risk decreased by 29%. An estimated 6.8 million malaria deaths have been averted globally since 2001.
Yet, malaria is a life-threatening disease in many parts of the globe which is caused by parasites, transmitted to people through the bites of infected female anopheles mosquitoes. Experts says that symptoms of malaria include-fever, headache and vomiting and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bites. Experts say that if not treated timely malaria can quickly become life threatening by disrupting blood supply to the vital organs of the body.
Although malaria is declining in many parts of the globe, but as per WHO data in the sub-Saharan Africa the epidemic continues to carry high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was accounted for 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths. Some 13 countries – mainly in sub-Saharan Africa – account for 76% of malaria cases and 75% deaths globally.
How malaria is transmitted – the fact is that non-immune travelers from malaria-free areas are vulnerable to the disease when they are infected. Globalization, climate change and urbanization have great impact on transmission of the disease.
Malaria causes burden of illness and death for individual and families and socio-economic losses for the country. It causes school absenteeism, worsen poverty, cast negative impact on the economic productivity, responsible for high health costs and overload health system of the countries. They are most commonly found in tropical areas and places where access to safe drinking water and sanitation systems is problematic.
As such countries around the globe are working jointly to fight against the burden of malaria. Multiple strategies need to be adopted to reduce the burden of the disease. Increased malaria prevention and control measures can contribute towards reducing the burden. Renewed commitments from the Ministry of Health, regional and global health initiatives with the support from international organizations, NGOs and communities have impact to reduce the burden of the disease.
WHO is working closely with the member-states in a bid to eradicate malaria. The WHO global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030 adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015 provides a technical framework for all malaria-endemic countries. The purpose is to guide and support regional and country programmes as they work towards malaria control and elimination. The strategy includes reducing malaria case incidence at least 90 percent, malaria mortality rates 90, eliminating malaria in at least 35 countries by 2030 and preventing a resurgence of malaria in all countries that are malaria-free.
WHO Global Malaria Programme have adopted various strategies and policies to control and eliminate malaria through setting, communicating and promoting the adoption of evidence-based norms, standards, policies, technical strategies and guidelines, keeping independent score of global progress and developing approaches for capacity building, systems strengthening and surveillance and identifying threats to malaria control and elimination as well as new areas for action. All these activities have contributed to reduce the burden of malaria in many parts of the globe.
In fact, World Malaria Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the burden of the malaria. Malaria can be prevented by wearing long cloth that act as barrier to exposures to mosquito bites, using screen on doors and windows, removing water storage containers, cleaning drainages, eliminating woods in the garden and yards and keeping the environment neat and clean. There is no scope to deny that Malaria is an important health issue in Bangladesh. As such Bangladesh has taken the issue as a priority one. In view, Bangladesh is working with a vision for a malaria-free country. There are 13 highly endemic districts in Bangladesh which include Kagrachari, Banderban, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Chittagong, Sylhet, Sunamgonj, Moulvibazar, Hobiganj, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Netrokona and Kurigram. As per data 98 percent of total malaria cases are reported from these districts and total population at risk is about 10.9 million. Moreover, seasonal workers such as Jhum cultivators, forest goers are at high risk group as they need to stay overnight in open spaces in the forest and hills. Further border area population carries average high level of malaria due to migration to and from endemic areas of neighbouring countries. In order to avert the situation National Malaria Control Programme has drafted the National Strategy Plan 2015-2020 to achieve the target of malaria elimination zero case and zero death by 2020 in Bangladesh. This will be no doubt an effective programme towards creating a malaria-free Bangladesh for the welfare of the people of the country.
Bangladesh has already joined the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN) in order to intensify its malaria elimination efforts. It is worth to mention that ICDDR,B has played an important role in this regard. The network’s mission is to work jointly with regards to policy measures, advocacy, capacity building and exchange of knowledge to achieve the goal. With the full implementation of the Network’s aims and objectives, the dream of malaria-free Bangladesh will be materialized.
Wearing long cloths work as barrier to exposures to mosquito bites. Use of screen on doors and windows can help to remain free from mosquito bites. Removing water storage containers, cleaning drainages, eliminating woods in the garden and yards and keeping the environment neat and clean are some effective tools to eradicate malaria. Malaria control and prevention strategies need multiple strategies which also include interventions such as use of insecticides, mosquito nets and indoor spraying and diagnostic tests in addition to treatment of confirmed cases with anti-malarial medicines. Mass awareness is necessary to build malaria-free Bangladesh.
(M.A. Jabbar is banker and executive secretary of ADHUNIK, national anti-tobacco organization of Bangladesh.)
