An epidemiologist and researcher at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Dr Donnie Mategula has implored on researchers to come up with novel tools to add to the already existing tools to fight malaria.
Mategula made the call as the country joins the global community to commemorate World Malaria Day which falls on 25 April annually.
Mategula also called for concerted efforts from all malaria stakeholders locally and globally.
“Usually the most difficult aspect of any disease elimination is in the last phase, where we have to bring the cases to zero but with concerted efforts we can triumph,” Mategula said.
The 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) global technical strategy for Malaria seeks to reduce incidence and mortality rates of the disease by 90% by 2030.
There were an estimated 241 million cases of malaria in 2020, and the estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 627 000.
The WHO African Region carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2020, the region was home to 95% and 96% of malaria cases and deaths, respectively.
Children under 5 years of age are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria; in 2020, they accounted for about 80% of all malaria deaths in the WHO African Region.
