Malaria Day 2020: WHO calls for sustenance of anti-Malaria campaigns, protection of communities against COVID-19

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As the global community observe the 2020 World Malaria Day on Saturday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has underlined the critical importance of sustaining efforts to prevent, detect and treat malaria, using best practices to protect health workers and communities from COVID-19 infection.

Observed every April 25, Malaria Day aims to raise awareness on the global burden of malaria which puts half the world at risk and kills a child every two minutes.

This year’s commemoration led by the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, seeks to educate citizens in malaria affected countries on simple actions they can take to prevent malaria, highlights the impact of investments in ending malaria, and engages community, national and global leaders to ensure ending malaria remains a priority on the global agenda.

“It’s time to get back on track, particularly in countries where malaria strikes hardest. First, we need to ensure that everyone at risk of malaria can access the services they need to prevent, diagnose and treat it, without suffering financial hardship. Second, we need to prioritize support for countries where the need is greatest. And third, we must ramp up investment in the research and development to deliver new tools,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

As countries across the globe respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in lead up to this year’s World Malaria Day, a substantial efforts have been put in place to make its commemoration impactful. Consequently, everyone – from global leaders, NGOs, academics and civil society organisations to journalists, teachers and health workers – are invited to join the Zero Malaria Starts with Me campaign.

Zero Malaria Starts with Me is a movement dedicated to driving action and making change, as well as emphasizing the power and responsibility to ensure no one dies from a mosquito bite.