World Malaria Day is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria.
This year’s theme “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”. WHO, is focused on raising awareness about the need to “implement” the tools and strategies available today to reach those who continue to be unreached across the Western Pacific.
World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Malaria is still a threat in Africa continent despite efforts that have been put in place including vaccination to curb its spread.
The recent statistics of the World Health Organization show that, Malaria caused the deaths of 619,000 people worldwide in 2021.
WHO estimates that almost 250 million people will be infected with malaria this year. 247 million people were infected with malaria in 2021. About half of the world’s people live in an area which is dangerous and may be infected.
Young children, children under five years of age, pregnant women are more likely to get infected.
Statistics show that, more than half of all Malaria deaths around the world occur in four African countries which are: Nigeria (31.3%), Democratic Republic of Congo (12.6%), Tanzania (4.1%) and Niger (3.9%).
World Health Organization statistics show that, on average, the continent of Africa records 200 million cases and 400,000 deaths per year caused by Malaria.
This means that, almost 90 percent of Malaria cases are in Africa; where 260,000 children die from this disease every year.
Malaria is caused by parasites and is transmitted to humans through the female anopheles mosquito, although the disease can be prevented and cured, it can cause death if not treated.