WHO Lauds Africa On Malaria Control

The World Health Organistion (WHO), has commended Africa’s progress in the fight againsat malaria.

Africa’s Regional Director of WHO, Dr Luis Sambo, said the progress was significant, adding however, that the achievement must be sustained in order to keep the prevalence low.

Dr Sambo in a message at this year’s World Malarial Day (WMD), expressed optimism that the alliances against malaria across Africa would keep the disease occurrences low.

According to him, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (REC), have pledged their support to eliminate preventable deaths through malaria by 2015 and have kept malaria high on their health and development agenda.

He said, “the success rate for malaria proposals for the Global Fund, reached 80 per cent in the 10th round.

Consequently, effective interventions including  protection from mosquitos through the use of Insecticle Treated Nets (ITNs), and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) prompt treatment of malaria cases using Artemisinin-based combination Therapy, (ACT), Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnant women and children are being adapted and scaled up.”

The Regional Director was happy that countries and partners are making commendable efforts to accelerate and sustain progress in malarial prevention and contraol in the region adding that endemic countries have reflected malaria control in their poverty reduction strategies.”

He also noted that there are ongoing programme reviews and update of strategic plans to address funding and capacity gaps for universal access, adding that already, 11 countries have registered more than 50 per cent reduction in malaria incidences and fatalities.

To consolidate on the achievement, he stressed on need to strengthen performances and accountability, mobilise additional resources, coordinate stakeholders and partners under national stewardship, effectively involve expose persons and strengthen links between disease programme development and health systems.

He also spoke of the need for countries to address,  “weak surveillance, monitoring and evaluation capacity, inadequate operational research platform lack of implementation of regulatory measures such as the ban on oral Artemisimin-based monotherapies and inadequately monitoring of parasite resistance to antimalarial medications and mosquito resistance to insecticles.”

Tonye Nria –Dappa