Laos aims to end malaria by 2030

LAOS aims to eradicate malaria by 2030 but it may not achieve the target if people do not follow preventive measures like sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, local daily Vientiane Times reported.

“The best way to prevent malaria infection is to avoid mosquito bites, sleeping under insecticide-treated nets and taking medicine for malaria, under a physician’s advice, by tourists and those who find it necessary to visit malaria-risk zones,” Laos Health Minister Bounkong Syhavong said to mark World Malaria Day, annually observed on April 25.

These examples have enabled the incidences of malaria to be reduced in Laos year-on-year while keeping the malaria incidences in the country under control. In 2015, there were 36 056 cases of infection, resulting in two deaths. In 2016, the number of infections was 16 528 and one death, a reduction of 54% from 2015.

However, drug-resistant cases had increased by 10% in 2013 and 14% in 2015, especially in Champassak, Xekong and Attapeu provinces. Even though the number of cases has decreased, officials suggest that preventive measures must be continued. World Malaria Day was created to remind of the need for continued investment and political commitment.

The global theme for 2017 is “End Malaria for Good”. This year, the World Health Organisation has placed a focus on prevention, primarily through the scale up of insecticide-treated nets and insecticides. Globally, malaria kills more than 400 000 annually, although the number has been falling from 2010 to 2015.

New malaria cases fell by 21% but it still accounted for 212 million new cases in 2015. According to the World Malaria Report in 2016, one child dies from malaria every two minutes. – Xinhua