By Pauline Soy Over the past few decades, remarkable strides have been made to end Africa’s malaria burden. Frontline tools, including insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), have played significant roles in saving countless lives by reducing deaths and curbing the spread of the disease over the past two decades. Between 2000…
Malawi Convenes National Health Financing Dialogue to create a roadmap for a sustainable future
The Government of Malawi has convened a National Health Financing Dialogue to align stakeholders on Malawi’s path towards sustainable financing of healthcare in line with both national and regional commitments. Identification, planning and implementation of domestic health financing reforms alongside key stakeholders is core to supporting better health outcomes for the people of Malawi. The…
World Malaria Day 2022 Official Statement
By H.E. Minata Samate Cessouma Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission The African Union Commission joins the world to commemorate World Malaria Day 2022 under the theme “Advance Equity. Build Resilience. End Malaria” as we all strive to meet the global goal to eradicate malaria by 2030. I am…
Climate Change could lead to rise of Dengue fever and Malaria infections
By Checky Abuje More than 8bn people could be at risk of malaria and dengue fever infections by 2080 as a result of the global warming. A new study has found that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate, temperatures will increase leading to rise of conditions that encourage malaria-carrying mosquito. According to…
President Kenyatta launches Youth Army To fight Malaria in Kenya
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, Thursday launched the Kenya Malaria Youth Army, a social movement that brings together young people from all the 47 counties of Kenya to champion malaria control and elimination in the country. The Kenya Malaria Youth Army will support advocacy, communication, innovation, and community efforts geared towards ending malaria, improving maternal and…
Tackling Malaria During Pregnancy
By Irene Sinoya irenesinoya@gmail.com In many parts of Western Kenya, the beginning of heavy rainfall is always accompanied by an upsurge of malaria cases. The prolonged rains increase the amount of stagnant water in the environment, hence providing a breeding place for infectious mosquitoes that cause malaria. In malaria-endemic regions like Bungoma and Kakamega County,…
COVID-19 pandemic looms large over a malaria-free future
Despite the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world held the line in protecting historic gains against malaria this year, saving hundreds of thousands of lives, preserving fragile health systems, and keeping malaria at bay in countries with zero local cases. However, long-term success in reaching a malaria-free world within a generation…
Urgent call to African leaders to support women access to lifesaving malaria treatment
The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership to End Malaria has Tuesday issued an urgent appeal to leaders and health policymakers across Africa to better protect millions of pregnant women and their newborn children from the devastating consequences caused by malaria in pregnancy. Malaria strikes hardest against pregnant women and children in sub-Saharan Africa, who are…