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WHO Report Warns of Escalating Malaria Threat as Global Targets Overshoot
- December 1, 2023
- Posted by: Admin
- Category: Health tips National Health Daily News update
The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed a grim picture in its annual World Malaria Report, indicating a concerning rise in malaria cases, surpassing global containment targets. The report highlighted challenges such as pandemic-related disruptions, climate change-induced extreme weather events, and increasing drug resistance contributing to this setback.
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, expressed alarm, emphasising the risk of losing ground in the battle against malaria. The report showcased a staggering 249 million estimated cases in 2022, with the global incidence rate at 58.4 cases per 1,000 people at risk, far exceeding the targeted rate of 26.2 by 2025.
Weather extremes triggered surges in malaria cases, exemplified by a five-fold increase in Pakistan due to floods. Despite a steady decline in malaria deaths from 2000 to 2019, pandemic-related disruptions led to an estimated 608,000 deaths in 2022, primarily among young children.
While two new malaria vaccines offer a glimmer of hope, the report highlighted a substantial funding gap in the response. With only $4.1 billion invested in global malaria efforts against the required $7.8 billion, the report signals an urgent need for increased financial support.
The report’s revelations underscore a critical need for immediate action to avert a potential resurgence of malaria, which threatens to erode the hard-won gains achieved over the last two decades.
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