Introduction:
World Malaria Day is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control, in addition to raise awareness of individuals and how to avoid it.
Key Facts:
- Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
- Malaria is preventable and curable, and increased efforts are dramatically reducing the malaria burden in many places.
- The sub-Saharan Africa Region carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was home to 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths.
Objectives of the World Malaria Day in the Kingdom:
- Protection of targeted areas at the onset of malaria transmission season.
- Elimination of Malaria in the Kingdom.
Statistics:
Globally: Nearly half of the world's population is at risk of malaria. In 2015, there were roughly 212 million malaria cases and an estimated 429,000 malaria deaths. Increased prevention and control measures have led to a 29% reduction in malaria mortality rates globally since 2010. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to carry a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was home to 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths.
Locally: Most cases of malaria are imported from outside the Kingdom, and thanks to Allah at the first place and then to the efforts made and the estimated support for the malaria control program by the government and partners in 1997 and beyond, which led to reducing the number of local cases. As a result, transmission of the disease was halted in most parts of the Kingdom except some villages at the southern border, in Asir and Jazan regions, for several reasons including the current situation in the south, as well as the environmental and topographic situation and border areas adjacent to malaria infected areas inside the Republic of Yemen. Thus protecting the vast majority of the Kingdom's population from malaria.
Official Date:
- Globally: April 25th, 2017.
- Locally: Rajab 28th, 1438H.
Theme of the World Malaria Day:
Elimination of Malaria in the Kingdom
Targeted Groups:
- Malaria patients.
- Patients' families and contacts.
- Health decision-makers.
- Health professionals and health associations and societies.
- The public.
Related links:
- Vector Control Department.
- WHO