World Malaria Day (WMD) is an international day which is celebrated every year on 25TH April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria. World Malaria Day was established in May 2007 by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, WHO decision-making body. The day was established to provide “education and understanding of malaria” and spread information on “year-long intensified implementation of national malaria-control strategies, including community-based activities for malaria prevention and treatment in endemic areas. World Malaria Day allows for corporations, multinational organizations and grassroots organizations globally to work together to bring awareness to malaria and advocate for policy changes.
Since 2000, malaria affected countries and their development partners have made remarkable progress in reducing the total number of malaria cases and death. But the toll of malaria remains unacceptably high. Every two minutes, a child dies of this preventable and treatable disease, and each year more than 200million new cases of the disease are reported.
Urgent action needed to get the global response to malaria back on track and the ownership of the challenge lies in the hands of countries most affected by malaria. Changing the trajectory of current malaria trends will require stepped-up and coordinated action by stakeholders. But progress can only be achieved through malaria responses that are country owned
The theme for 2019 ‘zero malaria starts with me’ will empower individuals across the world to make a personal commitment to saving millions more lives, and help communities and economies to thrive by ending malaria.
