MMV welcomes launch of WHO P. vivax technical brief
MMV welcomes the launch of the WHO’s technical brief "Control and elimination of P. vivax malaria” in Delhi, India, close on the heels of the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (GTS) released at the World Health Assembly in May 2015. The technical brief was developed by the WHO with support from MMV.
Launching the document with Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), Delhi, Dr Pedro Alonso, Director Global Malaria Programme, WHO HQ Geneva said: “The P. vivax technical brief is a critical document to help the world move forward in the fight against malaria in the coming years.”
P. vivax malaria presents a major challenge to achieving international malaria targets set by the GTS for 2030. In addition to being a potential barrier to elimination it is increasingly recognized that P. vivax infections can be as debilitating as P. falciparum malaria, causing severe disease and death. Following consultations at global regional levels, the technical brief was developed to outline specific interventions to overcome these challenges.
“MMV welcomes this important technical brief,” said Dr David Reddy, CEO of MMV. “P. vivax malaria control and elimination are vital if we are to meet the ambitious goals set by the Global Technical Strategy to reduce case incidence and mortality rates by 90% and eliminate malaria in 35 countries. MMV looks forward to working with partners to contribute to these goals.”
The launch of the technical brief was followed by a “Global Meeting on Plasmodium Vivax” attended by National Malaria Control Programme managers and WHO staff from 20–25 high P. vivax burden countries, as well as representatives from research, academia, donor and development fraternities.
“This meeting is a rare opportunity to strengthen South–South and North–South collaboration,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO-SEARO. “The battle against malaria is far from over… We need to collaborate with the private sector and invest in research and development. We have the opportunity to eliminate malaria and we must not let it slip away. We need to act now and take urgent action before P. vivax malaria becomes an obstacle to malaria elimination”.
More information is available on the WHO website: