Many countries poised to end malaria
About a third of countries affected by malaria are on track to eliminate the disease within the next decade, according to a new report from the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership.
Eliminating Malaria: Learning From the Past, Looking Ahead analyzes national data on malaria worldwide and finds impressive gains. Seven countries have eliminated the disease and are working to prevent its reintroduction while ten are monitoring transmission as the number of new cases within their borders approaches zero. Nine more countries are preparing to move toward nationwide elimination of the disease.
Support key to sustaining success
The report, the eighth in the Progress & Impact series published by RBM, was authored by the World Health Organization’s Global Malaria Programme and released Monday, October 17, 2011 at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Malaria Forum 2011 in Seattle, Washington. PATH is a member of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, and our Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa (MACEPA) program supported development of the report.
While the report hails successes against malaria, its authors acknowledge that progress is fragile and continued effort and investments are crucial to sustain gains. They point out that investments in improving socioeconomic conditions and housing in areas at-risk for malaria are essential to success, as is raising awareness about malaria elimination activities among community and business leaders, health workers, and the public.