Malaria is a preventable and treatable disease, but for how
long?
This year, on World Malaria Day, April 25, the global health
community has reason to celebrate. Indeed, thanks to substantial investments
from partners and countries over the last decade, the scorecard on malaria
reports good news: a reduction of more
than 50% in confirmed malaria cases or malaria admissions and deaths in recent
years in at least 11 countries south of the Sahara, and in 32 endemic countries
outside of Africa. Overall, the number of deaths due to malaria is estimated to
have decreased from 985,000 in 2000 to 655,000 in 2010.
The fact that an estimated 1.1 million African children were
saved from the deadly grip of malaria over the last decade is an extraordinary
achievement. By the end of 2010, a total of 289 million insecticide-treated nets
were delivered to sub-Saharan Africa, enough to cover 76% of the 765 million
persons at risk.
