WRITTEN BY PROF. PETER KATCHY
World Malaria Day is celebrated on April 25 every year. It provides a common platform for countries to showcase their successes in malaria control and unify diverse initiatives in the changing global context.

The Theme for this year is “READY TO BEAT MALARIA”, reflecting on the collective energy and commitment of the global malaria community in uniting around the common goal of a world, free of malaria. Urgent action is therefore required to get the global fight against malaria back on track. That is why World Health Organization is calling for greater investment and expanded coverage of proven tools that prevent, diagnose and treat malaria.
The global response to malaria is at a crossroad. After an unprecedented period of success in malaria control, progress has stalled. The current pace is insufficient to achieve the 2020 milestones of the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria, which calls for a forty per cent reduction in malaria case incidence and death rates.
According to the most recent World Malaria Report, the global tally of Malaria in 2016, were two hundred and sixteen million cases of malaria in ninety-one countries; five million more than the two hundred and eleven million cases reported in 2015. This marks a return to 2012 levels. Malaria continues to claim a significant number of lives: in 2016, four hundred and forty-five thousand people died from malaria globally, compared to four hundred and twenty-nine estimated deaths in 2015. Children under 5 are particularly susceptible. The disease claims the life of a child every 2 minutes. 15 countries – all but one in sub-Saharan Africa – carry 80% of the global malaria burden.
There is therefore need for renewed focus in Africa as the African Region continues to bear 90% of malaria cases and 91% of malaria deaths worldwide.  Nigeria accounted for 27% of malaria cases and 24% of malaria deaths globally in 2016. Supporting the most heavily-affected African countries will be critical to get the global malaria response back on track
Malaria is associated with dirty environment and dirty habit. It is caused by parasites belonging to the plasmodium group that lives inside the red blood cells. The disease is carried by female mosquito, called anopheline. In Africa, it is usually known by the angular position of its body while perching on walls.
Mosquitoes need water to breed and are always found around smelling puddles, swamps, ponds and gutters.  Mosquito bite to a person results in malaria. The disease is sequel to the development of the parasites, which manifest as malaria after 8 to 14 days or longer after the attack of mosquito by biting a person.
Parasites live in blood and do most of the damage. A chronic case results in general debility, anemia and an enlarged spleen. Malaria is the most important and malignant parasitic disease of humans. The disease is the largest effect on the course of history and settlement in tropical regions. There are over a hundred species of malaria parasite or plasmodium, but only four types affect humans.
Less malaria means healthier society, increased attendance to school and work, more productive communities, and stronger economies. Eliminating malaria is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and must remain a key priority for the global development community.
To beat malaria for Good, WHO is shining a spotlight on prevention. Since 2000, malaria prevention has played an important role in reducing cases and deaths, primarily through the scale up of insecticide-treated nets and indoor spraying with insecticides. WHO is therefore calling on malaria-affected countries and their development partners to boost investments in malaria prevention. Eliminating malaria will make the world a better and safer place and enable millions of people to reach their full potentials.
Safer environment and healthy future are therefore very imperative to end malaria. The tools are cost-effective and the return on investment is high. Ending malaria transmission will increase the quality of life and free up resources that are being used to fight the disease. With the required resources and all partners united, we can transform our common vision to beat malaria.

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