World Malaria Day 2017 observed globally

25 April: World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day (WMD) 2017 was observed globally on 25 April 2017 with the theme Malaria prevention: let’s close the gap. With this theme, WHO is calling the countries together for closing the gap in malaria prevention.

World Malaria Report 2016
• As per the World Malaria Report 2016, the rate of new malaria cases fell by 21 per cent globally between 2010 and 2015.
• Malaria death rates fell by 29 per cent in the same 5-year period.
• In sub-Saharan Africa, case incidence and death rates fell by 21 per cent and 31 per cent respectively.
• Other regions also made substantial gains in their malaria responses, but the disease remains a major public health threat.
• In 2015, the global tally of malaria reached 429000 malaria deaths and 212 million new cases. One child died from malaria every 2 minutes.
• Ninety-one countries reported ongoing malaria transmission in 2015.

Malaria elimination
• In recent years, 7 countries were certified by the WHO Director-General as Malaria-free countries. These are- United Arab Emirates (2007), Morocco (2010), Turkmenistan (2010), Armenia (2011), Maldives (2015), Sri Lanka (2016) and Kyrgyzstan (2016).
• This certification is granted by WHO when countries achieve at least 3 consecutive years of zero locally-acquired cases of malaria.
• In 2015, the WHO European Region achieved interruption of indigenous malaria transmission and was declared malaria-free in 2016. The region maintained this status since then.

Background
• The World Malaria Day is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria.
• It is one of eight official global public health campaigns currently marked by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The day was established in May 2007 by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly to provide education and understanding of malaria and spread information on year-long intensified implementation of national malaria-control strategies.