End malaria for good

Each year on April 25, the world marks World Malaria Day to highlight global efforts to control malaria and mobilise action to combat the disease. The INDEPTH Network joined the world in observing the day.

This year’s celebration was on the theme “End malaria for good”.  The theme reflects the vision of a malaria-free world set out in the "Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030".

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) there were 214 million new cases of malaria worldwide and 438 000 deaths caused by malaria in 2015.

Despite these, the WHO notes that “over the past 15 years, there has been a dramatic decline in the global burden of malaria. Since 2000, nearly 60 countries have reduced their malaria cases by 75% or more, and the rate of new cases has decreased by 37% globally.”

The Network welcomed the good news about the decline in the global burden of malaria but urged governments around the world not to cut down aid budgets for malaria eradication if “we are to end malaria for good”.

“On World Malaria Day it is heart warming to note that all the efforts at malaria control since the year 2000 have yielded massive results. Globally, malaria mortality has reduced by 60%, malaria cases have reduced by about 37% and above all target 6c of MDG 3 to halt and reverse the incidence of malaria has been achieved,” said Dr. Margaret Gyapong, Director of the Dodowa Health Research Centre, a member of the INDEPTH Network.

The INDEPTH Network has over the years contributed significantly in the fight against malaria. Mention could be made of various researches on malaria by member centres that have impacted health policies in various countries; the INDEPTH Effectiveness and Safety Studies of Antimalarial Drugs in Africa (INESS), a platform that enables African researchers to carry out large Phase IV trials as well as enhance African capacity to monitor local health systems in order to the track the costs, effectiveness of coverage, and impact of newly registered antimalarial treatments. Additionally, some member centres of the INDEPTH Network were part of the RTS,S  malaria vaccine trial.