World Malaria Report 2011 highlights fragile progress
The World Malaria Report (WMR) 2011 provides the latest available data on malaria-related morbidity and mortality from around 106 malaria endemic countries. For the first time, the WMR includes profiles of all 99 countries with ongoing malaria transmission, and analyses the successes and challenges to date (7 countries are in the prevention of re-introduction phase).
The 2011 Report shows clear progress in the increase of prevention and control measures resulting in a substantial decline in both estimated malaria cases (from 225 to 216 million) and deaths (from 781,000 to 655,000). There has been a rise in insecticide treated nets (ITN) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) coverage, more pregnant women are receiving chemoprevention, the number of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) procured and supplied has increased globally, and total ACT demand is projected to be 32% more than in 2010.
However, the Report does underline a number of threats to this progress: primarily, the fact that resources to fully fund universal access to life-saving malaria prevention and control measures are worryingly inadequate. Additional challenges outlined are suspected artemisinin resistance identified in three additional border areas between Thailand and Cambodia and the rapidly growing threat of resistance to the insecticide, pyrethroid.
“The World Malaria Report is an extremely important tool for all those committed to the control and ultimate elimination of malaria,” said David Reddy, CEO of MMV. “We sincerely hope the challenges outlined in the report will impress upon the donor community the critical need to sustain the effort if we are to defeat this disease. On our part, Medicines for Malaria Venture will continue to single-mindedly work towards discovering and developing new medicines not only to treat P.falciparum malaria quickly and easily, but also to counter artemisinin resistance, stop transmission and cure the sorely neglected P.vivax, relapsing malaria.”
See the World Malaria Report on the WHO website.