WHO Calls for More Resources, Cross Border Collaboration on Malaria Free Africa

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on African countries to allocate more resources and strengthen cross border collaboration to achieve a malaria free Africa.

The WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Wondi Alemu, made this call in Abuja while briefing journalists on the World Malaria Day 2018 with the theme: ‘Ready to Beat Malaria’.

Alemu noted that the World Malaria Day is an occasion to renew political commitment and continuous investment for malaria prevention and control.

The world malaria day is celebrated on April 25, focusing global attention on malaria and its devastating impact on families, communities and development.

He said: “We are calling on all African countries affected by malaria to work with development partners to boost investment in malaria prevention and control, especially new tools to combat malaria.

“It will propel countries along the road to elimination to continue in contributing to the achievement of other sustainable development goals, such as improving maternal and child health.”

The WHO Country Representative however, noted that countries in African region also recorded the biggest rise of malaria testing in the public sector from 36 per cent of suspected cases in 2010 to 87 per cent in 2016.