New Report Says African Countries on Course to Eliminate Malaria

By Henry Neondo

SEATTLE—A new report released by the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership Monday reveals that an increasing number of African countries are setting their sights on eliminating malaria, with three countries already certified as malaria- free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the last 4 years. Authored by the WHO's Global Malaria Program, with data collected from all geographical regions, the latest report in the RBM Progress & Impact series, Eliminating Malaria, Learning from the Past, Looking Ahead, identifies the current trend towards ending malaria, with seven countries having recently eliminated malaria and working to prevent re-introduction, and another 10 countries are currently monitoring transmission to arrive at zero malaria cases.

The report further describes nine countries - out of a total of 108 malaria endemic countries and territories - which are preparing to move towards nationwide elimination of malaria.

Addressing a media roundtable at the Gates Malaria Forum, Dr Robert Newman, Director of the Global Malaria Program of WHO stated, "The world has made remarkable progress with malaria control. Better diagnostic testing and surveillance has provided a clearer picture of where we are on the ground – and has shown that there are countries eliminating malaria in all endemic regions of the world. WHO continually monitors this progress and ensures that these countries are fully supported in their efforts to
be malaria -free."

Malaria elimination - the deliberate interruption of mosquito-borne malaria transmission resulting in zero incidence of infection in a defined geographical area - was first attempted at large scale during the Global Malaria Eradication Program from 1955 to 1972.

During this 17-year period, twenty countries were certified by WHO as malaria-free. However, this number fell to only 4 countries in the 30 years which followed, due to a massive reduction in efforts to control the disease. Today there are still an estimated 781 000 deaths annually from malaria, a disease which is entirely preventable and treatable.

Malaria affects 40 per cent of the world's population and hinders social and economic development among the poorest communities.

Over the last decade, the rapid scale-up of a variety of malaria control interventions has saved an estimated 1.1 million lives in Africa alone, and reduced deaths from malaria by 38 per cent. This momentum and the results achieved have encouraged many countries to consider the next steps towards malaria elimination.

"The extraordinary commitment, the concomitant financing, and the coordination of efforts to realize malaria targets over the last ten years have resulted in a situation today where we could see 10 more countries reaching a malaria-free status in a relatively short time. This will save many many more lives," said Prof Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership.

By continuing the push for universal coverage with malaria control tools, including insecticide treated nets, indoor residual spraying, diagnostic testing, and effective malaria treatments - countries will be able to reduce malaria transmission dramatically. "Eliminating malaria requires strong national leadership, commitment to quality programming, and highly effective surveillance systems that can rapidly detect and contain transmission" stated Dr Richard Steketee, Science Director of the Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA) at PATH.

"The global community must commit to sustained and predictable support to help move those ready countries across the elimination threshold."

This week RBM Partners are gathering at the second Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation Malaria Forum to share ideas and strategies around the goal of malaria elimination - and eventual eradication.

"In 2011, with the highly effective interventions we have available, no one should die from malaria" continued Dr Robert Newman. "If we can achieve universal access to and utilization of these measures, while making the required investments in people and health systems, as well as in the research required to develop tomorrow's transformative tools, then the country and regional goals of malaria elimination, and the global goal of eradicating this ancient scourge, will become a reality."