World Malaria Day is annually observed across the globe on 25th April to highlight the need for investment and commitment towards the prevention and control of malaria.
- The day aims to educate and provide a better understanding of Malaria, a preventable and curable disease.
- The theme of World Malaria Day 2021 is “Reaching the zero malaria target”.
RBM Partnership to End Malaria:
i.According to the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, the World Malaria Day 2021 will be built on the ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me’ movement and the ‘Draw the Line Against Malaria’ campaign.
ii.RBM Partnership to End Malaria observes World Malaria Day 2021 under the theme “Zero Malaria – Draw the Line Against Malaria”.
Background:
i.During the 60th World Health Assembly held in May 2007, the member states of the World Health Organisation(WHO) proclaimed that the 25th April of every year will be observed as World Malaria Day.
ii.The First World Malaria Day was observed on 25th April 2008.
WHO launched – E-2025 Initiative:
i.Ahead of World Malaria Day 2021, WHO launched the E-2025 initiative, with an aim to end the transmission of malaria in 25 more countries by 2025.
ii.According to the WHO, as of February 2021, around 39 countries were malaria-free and out of the 87 countries with malaria, 46 countries have reported less than 1000 cases in 2019.
WHO’s Report – “Zeroing in on malaria elimination”:
i.The WHO published a new report titled “Zeroing in on malaria elimination” which highlights the achievements and lessons learned among the E-2020, an initiative of 21 malaria eliminating countries launched in 2017.
ii.The report states that the E-2020 countries have reported zero indigenous malaria cases in 2020 and in around 6 countries of the subregion the number of reported cases has reduced by 97% and the deaths due to malaria reduced by more than 99%.
Virtual forum:
On 21st April 2021, ahead of World Malaria Day, the WHO and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria co-hosted a virtual forum for the world leaders, frontline health workers and global partners to share their experiences and efforts to achieve the target of zero malaria.
Harsh Vardhan chaired the “Reaching Zero” Forum:
i.As a part of the World Malaria Day 2021, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW) virtually chaired the “Reaching Zero” Forum on malaria elimination.
ii.More than 116 districts in India have reported zero malaria cases in 2020.
iii.India has reduced the number of cases by 84.5% and number of deaths due to malaria by 83.6%. This achievement of India is recognised by the World Malaria Reports by 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Malaria:
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease, caused by the Plasmodium parasites.
The parasites are spread to humans through the bites of the infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
