Managing Malaria
500 collaborative entities versus one destructive disease
Published November 2018, a certain degree of positivity surrounded the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) latest World Malaria Report. Testament to magnified efforts and expanded collaborations, the report reveals that fatalities from the mosquitoborne disease have fallen by more than 60 percent when compared to the height of the crisis during the early 2000s, with an estimated seven million lives having been saved as a result.
More recent times somewhat echo this optimism in a number of countries such as India, for example, where
malaria cases dropped by 24 percent in 2017, and in Rwanda, where 430,000 fewer outbreaks were reported compared to 2016.
However, despite headway having been made during the course of the past two decades, many lower-income countries continue to bear the brunt of the disease and its effects.
“While signs of progress continue to be made in half of all those countries affected, malaria is creeping back up in some of the most burdened areas,” explains Dr Winnie MpanjuShumbusho, Board Chair of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria.
“We are particularly concerned about the estimated annual increase of 3.5 million cases in the 10 worst affected countries, reinforcing the message that urgent action is critical in order to protect hard-earned progress.”
Shockingly, 11 countries account for as much as 70 percent of this global burden, with 10 of these found in SubSaharan Africa.
“Together these nations are home to an estimated 151 million cases of malaria and 275,000 deaths each year,” continues Dr MpanjuShumbusho. “They’re the most susceptible countries for an array of reasons, from population size and available funding to added pressures from conflict and climate change.
“In 2017 only half of those at risk of malaria in Africa slept under an insecticide-treated net – a simple solution, yet there have only been marginal improvements in the usage of nets since 2015. These citizens’ vulnerabilities are exacerbated, something that needs addressing as we look to reignite progress in the malaria fight.”
Policy progression
Launched in 1998 as a collaboration between WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and the World Bank, RBM Partnership to End Malaria is today comprised of more than 500 partners including malaria endemic countries, bilateral and multilateral development partners, private sector businesses, non-governmental and communitybased organisations, foundations, and research and academic institutions.
A leading global health body defined by collaborative, combative efforts, the organisation’s strength lies in its ability to form effective partnerships that scale up malaria-control policies across different regions.
“Achieving our goals requires political commitment at the highest levels,” Mpanju-Shumbusho explains.
“It is crucial that countries and governments drive public health priorities and strategies that fit the individual needs and challenges that each country faces, ensuring resources are utilised in the most effective ways.
“However, pressure must also come from the ground up in order to hold decision-makers accountable, while simple steps like the use of mosquito nets cannot be ignored.
“The fight against malaria needs to be owned by us all.”
A disease renowned for its direct impact on health, the societal and economic implications of malaria spread far beyond this. MpanjuShumbusho continues: “Malaria is the disease of poverty and failure to address it means that communities will be trapped in this continuous, stagnating cycle.
“Those affected by malaria are forced to miss work or school, restricting their income, education and overall prospects. Unfortunately, the consequences of malaria can be all encompassing, however, our recent efforts are seeking to address this.”
The organisation’s Chair refers to the aggressive new ‘High burden to high impact’ approach announced by the WHO’s Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at the World Health Assembly in May 2018, an initiative launched in tandem by the WHO and RBM Partnership to
End Malaria that will stride to tackle the disease, starting with the 11 highburden countries.
“The core principle of this is that no one should die from a disease that is preventable and treatable,” MpanjuShumbusho adds.
Maintaining momentum
A recognised response plan that will be upheld by each of the 500-plus partners of the RBM Partnership to
End Malaria, such coordinated action will be fundamental to the success of combatting the disease in the eyes of Dr Mpanju-Shumbusho.
“We are all stronger when we work together,” she reveals.
2018 was a milestone year for anti-malaria cooperation, with global leaders pledging $4.1 billion to advancing the malaria fight at the London Malaria Summit, while bold pledges also came from 53 Commonwealth nations and the South African Development Community.
Despite this, however, for MpanjuShumbusho there is still a long way to go, with recent advances still in jeopardy of being hindered should a lapse in focus emerge.
She concludes: “Looking ahead to 2019, we must maintain momentum. This is especially relevant as we are heading for the sixth replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which accounts for around 60 percent of all global anti-malaria financing.
“Improving the availability of education and tools such as bed nets and indoor residual spraying programmes, as well as environmental modification measures must therefore continue to be key areas of focus in countries affected by the disease.
“There is no standing still with malaria. We must move quickly to step up efforts and continue progress for all countries to end the disease for good.”