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COVID-19 has placed a strain on health systems globally. Last March 2020, APMEN held a session at an early stage in the pandemic, where we explored how countries in the Asia Pacific region were going about sustaining malaria services despite the nascent health crisis of COVID-19. A year on, as we are still very much dealing with the pandemic and rolling out the vaccine progressively, we take stock on the region’s ongoing challenges and successes in keeping malaria under check.

Deadline: 30 May 2021 at 17:00

It is the intent of this RFP to secure competitive proposals from capable vendors to carry out the supply of personal protective equipment and other implementation materials to Malaria Consortium Nigeria.

The Global Malaria Programme is seeking public comments on the following preferred product characteristics (PPC) on indoor residual spraying products for malaria transmission control in areas with insecticide-resistant mosquito populations.

Interested parties may provide their comments to ayahmed@who.int by 15 May 2021.

For the draft for consultation see attached pdf.

Since 2017, WHO has supported a group of 21 malaria-eliminating countries through a special initiative called the “E-2020”. This report charts their progress towards a common goal: eliminating malaria within the 2020 timeline. According to this report, 8 E-2020 member countries reported zero indigenous cases of malaria in 2020, a remarkable achievement in view of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Maintaining zero cases is a testament to their commitment to protect hard-won gains and keep the disease at bay.

For the pdf of the report see attachment.

It [25 April] is World Malaria Day 2021 and we call on all stakeholders to draw the line against this disease, because all malaria cases and deaths are preventable. Although the WHO African Region accounts for virtually all 94% of global malaria cases and deaths, our countries have made progress in preventing both.
 

Ever since the inception of knowledge-based malaria control more than a century ago, vector control has been the primary strategy for combatting malaria. In recent decades, the focus has been on the use of Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) of insecticides. In Asia Pacific, much of the transmission occurs outdoors, and such outdoor transmission is a major driver of residual malaria.

Countries in the Asia Pacific region have done extremely well in achieving impressing levels of malaria reduction, but many still face the challenges of pernicious residual malaria. In Greater Mekong Subregion, much of this remaining malaria occurs within remote forested areas among forest-goers and mobile populations, where transmission happens outdoors. In these situations, bed nets and indoor spraying are not effective. Much has been published and debated on the subject but remains as intractable a challenge as ever. What to do about it?