WORLD MALARIA DAY: APRIL 25TH, 2014

Malaria is a mosquito borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by parasitic protozoans (a type of unicellular microorganism) of the genus plasmodium. 

Commonly, the disease is transmitted by a bite from an infected female Anopheles mosquito, which introduces the organisms from its saliva into a person's circulatory system.

In the blood, the parasites travel to the liver to mature and reproduce. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever and headache, which in severe cases can progress to coma or death.

According to the WHO,  Malaria still kills an estimated 627 000 people every year, mainly children under 5 years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Every year, more than 200 million cases occur; most of these cases are never tested or registered. Emerging drug and insecticide resistance threaten to reverse recent gains.

If the world is to maintain and accelerate progress against malaria, in line with Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6, and to ensure attainment of MDGs 4 and 5, more funds are urgently required.

Global efforts to control and eliminate malaria have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives since 2000, reducing malaria mortality rates by 42% globally and 49% in Africa. 

Increased political commitment and expanded funding have helped to reduce malaria incidence by 25% globally, and 31% in Africa.

Three entry routes for Malaria Control

The theme for 2014 and 2015 is: Invest in the future. Defeat malaria

World Malaria Day was instituted by WHO Member States during the World Health Assembly of 2007. 

It is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. It is also an opportunity:

• for countries in affected regions to learn from each other's experiences and support each other's efforts;
• for new donors to join a global partnership against malaria;
• for research and academic institutions to flag scientific advances to both experts and the general public; and
• for international partners, companies and foundations to showcase their efforts and reflect on how to further scale up interventions.