“The fight against malaria is at the crossroads and without urgent action, the major gains achieved so far, are under threat.’’

THIS is the grim reality sounded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a message to mark World Malaria Day 2018, observed on Wednesday,April 25.

Making a resounding call to action to member nations grappling with malaria, as well as other stakeholders, the WHO noted: “The global response to malaria is at the crossroads. After an unprecedented period of success in malaria control, progress has stalled. On this World Malaria Day, WHO continues to call for greater investment and expanded coverage of proven tools that prevent, diagnose and treat malaria,” the statement said.

This year’s theme is ‘Ready to Beat Malaria’ and the WHO has joined partner organisations in promoting the World Malaria Day theme, noting that it underscores the collective energy and commitment of the global malaria community in uniting around the common goal of a world free of malaria.

The theme also highlights the remarkable progress achieved in tackling what it describes as one of humanity’s oldest diseases, albeit, calling out worrying trends as captured in the 2017 World malaria report.

It affirms that the current pace is insufficient to achieve the 2020 milestones of the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 – specifically, targets calling for a 40 per cent reduction in malaria case incidence and death rates.
Meanwhile, in an analysis of the state of the disease, the WHO shows that countries with ongoing transmission are increasingly falling into one of two categories: those moving towards elimination and those with a high burden of the disease that have reported significant increases in malaria cases.

Guyana achieves significant progress
To this end, Guyana can be said to be among the countries moving towards elimination. This was highlighted in the recent World Malaria Day message to the nation, delivered by Guyana’s Minister of Public Health,Volda Lawrence.

Stating that this year’s World Malaria Day theme highlights Guyana’s posture with regards to malaria control on its shores, Minister Lawrence declared: “Guyana has achieved significant progress in the fight against malaria and we believe that the medicines to treat malaria must be well known; managed by health personnel and other well-trained volunteers, and should be made available free of charge to all patients who need them.”
Minister Lawrence pointed out that in the recent revision of the National Malaria Programme Strategic Plan, Guyana reassessed its position and opted to be even more aggressive to ensure that malaria is indeed dramatically decreased, alongside the process of strengthening its malaria surveillance system throughout the country.

Moreover, she said, the Ministry of Public Health (MPH) has been guided by the common commitment to decrease by 40 per cent the overall malaria burden by 2020, relative to 2014, particularly in Regions One (Barima Waini), Seven- Cuyuni Mazaruni, Eight- Potaro Siparuni and Nine – the Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo, where many of the key affected populations live, thereby facilitating the elimination of P. falciparum.

Essentially, the Public Health Minister took the opportunity to remind fellow Guyanese that the medicines approved to treat Plasmodium falciparum malaria are COARTEM and PRIMAQUINE.

On this note, the minister warned that ‘Artecom’ or ‘Artefan’ are not recommended medicines to treat malaria in Guyana.

Plasmodium falciparum is a protozoan parasite, one of the species of Plasmodium that cause malaria in humans. It is transmitted through the bite by the female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria caused by this species (also called malignant or falciparum malaria) is the most dangerous form of malaria, with the highest rates of complications, and the deadliest species of Plasmodium that cause malaria in humans. responsible for roughly 50 percent of all malaria cases. It is therefore regarded as the deadliest parasite in humans and is estimated to cause one million deaths every year. It is also associated with the development of blood cancer (Burkitt’s lymphoma) and is classified as Group 2A carcinogen.

A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT
Noting that malaria constitutes a serious public health problem worldwide, the Minister said it also remains a scourge to the poor and vulnerable, adding that it is an obstacle to the new global targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
World Malaria Day is an international observance commemorated every year on April 25, and recognises global efforts to control malaria. Globally 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk for malaria. The day is observed by all member states of the World Health Organisation. (WHO).