2016 World Malaria Day (WMD) - April 25,2016

 

World Malaria Day (WMD) is commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to controlMalaria

Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito borne infectious and communicable disease caused by parasitic protozoa, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes

Symptoms of Malaria

• Fever and chills
• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• General weakness and body aches

Malaria can become life-threatening if diagnosis and treatment does not occur in time. It may get very serious and lead to the following:

• Severe anaemia
• Kidney failure
• Cardiovascular collapse
• Low blood sugar​

Prevention of Malaria
You can use the following techniques to steer clear of the disease:

• Use of insecticidal nets
• Indoor residual spraying with insecticide to control vector mosquitoes
• Apply insect repellent (available in spray, cream or gel form) to exposed skin
• Cover exposed skin and shoes to avoid mosquito bites

 

World Malaria Day (WMD) is one of 8 official Global Public Health Campaigns currently marked by the World Health Organization(WHO), along with -

• World Health Day - April 07
• World Blood Donor Day - June 14
• World Immunization Week April 24 - 30
• World Tuberculosis Day - March 24
• World No Tobacco Day - May 31
• World Hepatitis Day - July 28 and 
• World AIDS Day - December 01

6 African Nations Could Be Malaria-Free By 2020: WHO Reports

Six countries in Africa, the continent where malaria is most widespread, could be free of the disease by 2020, according to a WHO report published Monday to mark World Malaria Day.

One of the goals of the World Health Organization's 2016-2030 programme against malaria is to wipe out the disease in at least 10 countries by the end of this decade.

"WHO estimates that 21 countries are in a position to achieve this goal, including six countries in the African Region, where the burden of the disease is heaviest," the Geneva-based organisation said in a statement.

These countries are - Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Comoros, South Africa and Swaziland.

The other countries the WHO believes could achieve this objective are China, Malaysia and South Korea, eight Latin American nations (Costa Rica, Belize, El Salvador, Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador and Suriname), as well as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Oman, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Timor-Leste and Nepal.

Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus eradicated malaria in 2015, according to a WHO report published earlier this month.

Some 214 million people suffered from malaria last year of which 438,000 died from the disease, according to the organisation.
Nine out of 10 deaths from the disease in 2015 came from sub-Saharan Africa, the report said.