World Malaria Day is a collective effort by the international community to raise awareness and serve as an important reminder of the ongoing needs to address Malaria as a global health challenge and highlight the efforts on its elimination.
Malaria is a disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. The disease can cause fever, chills, and flu-like illness. If it is not treated, it can cause severe complications and death. The disease can be prevented with the use of medicines and other measures, such as insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor insecticide spraying. Malaria disproportionately affects the most marginalized populations in society, including the rural poor, children, pregnant women, migrants and refugees. It is widespread in the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe.
According to the latest World Malaria Report, malaria claimed the lives of an estimated 619,000 people in 2021, and it is estimated that nearly 80% of malaria deaths in the African Region were among children under the age of 5. Efforts on investment, innovation and implementation have been made, and this year more countries are getting access to a new developed vaccine, that after 4 years has been received by approximately 1.4 million children across 3 piloted countries.
ISID joins the global community on this day to promote efforts to engage on its combat.
