The World Health Organization (WHO) has released data demonstrating that nations worldwide avoided the temptation to decrease funding for malaria screening and treatment programs in 2021.According to the World Malaria Report, 619 000 people will die from malaria worldwide in 2021. By the time the pandemic began in 2019, 568 000 individuals had perished.
Malaria cases were recorded in lower numbers in 2021 compared to the previous two years, but they were still higher than in 2020 and 2019. Malaria cases grew from 232 million in 2019 to 245 million in 2020 and 247 million in 2021.
Countries hit by malaria “redoubled efforts,” according to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and “the greatest implications of Covid-related interruptions to malaria services” were reduced in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there are many obstacles to overcome, there are also numerous reasons to remain optimistic.
There is every reason to hope for a malaria-free future if we can improve our response, detect and handle threats more effectively, strengthen our resilience, and expedite our research.
“After a significant increase in malaria cases and deaths in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, malaria-affected countries redoubled their efforts and were able to mitigate the worst impacts of Covid-related disruptions to malaria services,” said World Health Organization Director-General Dr.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. There is every reason to hope for a malaria-free future if we can improve our response, better detect and eliminate risks, develop our resilience, and expedite our research.
In 2019, more insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) were distributed than ever before, making it the most effective year for malaria transmission reduction. In 2021, 128 million (75%) of the 171 million ITNs scheduled for distribution were distributed, bringing the distribution rate up to pre-pandemic levels.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched two efforts to assist African countries in their fight against malaria: one to restrict the spread of the anopheles stephensi malaria vector and the other to reduce the prevalence of antimalarial treatment resistance. Furthermore, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme have developed a new global framework to combat malaria in urban environments, which municipal authorities and others may refer to.
Meanwhile, due to an active research and development pipeline, a new generation of malaria control instruments is on the horizon, which may speed the process of attaining global targets. Tailor-made mosquito baits, spatial repellents, and genetically altered insects are a few recent advancements in vector management that offer tremendous potential.
Researchers are creating novel diagnostic tools and next-generation life-saving treatments to address antimalarial medication resistance. RTS, S, the world’s first malaria vaccine, is projected to save millions more youngsters in areas with the highest risk of malaria disease and death beginning in late 2023. Several malaria vaccines are currently being researched and developed.
