Yes, Africa Has Made Progress In Malaria Fight, But Much Still Need To Be Done

By Simon Onyango:

In his speech in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, President Uhuru Kenyatta admitted that Africa has made significant progress in Malaria fight, this win he linked to a Four -Point Program implemented by African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA); digitization and score – card accountability and action plans, multi – sectoral advocacy, action and resource mobilization, regional coordination and access to life – saving commodities.
His sentiments are valid but we must also admit that Malaria is still a threat in most parts of the globe, more so , the African Continent and therefore, the robe should be tightened to meet the World Health Organisation’s 2030 target, that’s Malaria free zone.

In latest WHO data , Malaria is still a threat in Africa, in 2020, Africa was home to 95% of malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths – children under 5 accounted for an estimated 80% of all malaria deaths in the region. In the same data, it clearly stipulated that four African countries accounted for fast over a half of all malaria deaths worldwide; Nigeria 31.9%, the DRC 13.2% , Tanzania 4.1% and Mozambique 3.8% .
By keenly pondering on the data, you will realize, Africa still has miles to eradicate malaria and this depends on the degree of commitments African Leaders will put to free Africa from malaria.

Over the last 2 decades, WHO recommended Malaria prevention tools and strategies – effective vector control and the use of preventive antimalarial drugs as a major impact in reducing the global burden of this disease, these are some of the ways African leaders should invest much to help mitigating malaria.
Again, in 2021, WHO provided a technical framework for all malaria endemic countries; setting, communicating and promoting the adoption of evidence – based norms , standards, policies, technical strategies and guidelines, developing approaches for capacity building, system strengthening and surveillance and Identifying threats of malaria control and elimination as well as new area for action. I think, African Leaders should also major their focus on the highlighted framework to bring to an end Malaria in Africa as it has happened in most Western countries like China.