Today marks World Malaria Day. This year's theme is Zero malaria starts with me. It is a grassroots campaign that aims to keep malaria high on the political agenda, mobilize additional resources, and empower communities to end the disease.

But this year, the coronavirus pandemic is threatening gains made against malaria in recent years. Already, the World Health Organisation has warned the number of deaths from the mosquito-borne disease could double.

Severe disruptions to insecticide-treated net campaigns, and in access to antimalarial medicines, could lead to a doubling in the number of malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa this year compared to 2018, according to a new modelling analysis released by WHO and partners ahead of World Malaria Day.

The analysis supports the W.H.O call to minimize disruptions to malaria prevention and treatment services during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"Urgent action is needed to get back on track, and ownership of the challenge lies in the hands of countries most affected by malaria. The“Zero malaria”campaign engages all members of society: political leaders who control government policy decisions and budgets; private sector companies that will benefit from a malaria-free workforce; and communities affected by malaria, whose buy-in and ownership of malaria control interventions is critical to success," W.H.O submitted.

SOURCE(s): W.H.O.