SWITZERLAND — As the world marks World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for urgent action to combat malaria and save lives.
According to WHO, almost 1.5 million children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi who are at high risk of malaria have received the first dose of the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine as part of an ongoing pilot program.
The malaria vaccine pilot program launched in 2019 aims to provide equitable access to malaria prevention for vulnerable communities and save lives. If the vaccine is implemented widely, WHO estimates it could save tens of thousands of children every year.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, emphasized that already there are effective tools to combat malaria, including vector control, preventive medicine, testing, and treatment.
He also highlighted that a safe and effective malaria vaccine could save the lives of tens of thousands of children each year.
With sustained investment and scaled-up efforts to reach those most at risk, malaria elimination in many countries is in reach.
This year’s World Malaria Day is being celebrated under the theme “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement.”
WHO is urging countries to implement more effective tools and strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat malaria, particularly among marginalized populations.
Malaria is a serious disease that affects millions of people around the world, with Africa being the most affected region.
According to the latest World Malaria Report, 247 million new cases of malaria were reported in 2021, with nearly 80% of malaria deaths occurring among children under the age of five in Africa.
While progress has been made in expanding access to malaria services, many people at high risk of the disease still lack access to these life-saving interventions.
Thankfully, NGOs and development partners are stepping up to support the fight against malaria.
The Global Fund, for instance, has invested over US$16.4 billion in malaria programs as of June 2022, and has increased malaria grants by 23% in the current cycle (2021-2023) compared to the previous cycle (2018-2020).
Moreover, the Global Fund has provided additional funding through C19RM to countries to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the malaria response.
Other organizations such as Malaria No More, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria are also working hard to provide innovative solutions and accelerate progress towards a malaria-free world.
To address the challenges in expanding access to malaria services and building more resilient malaria programs, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently published new strategies and frameworks.
These include a new strategy to contain antimalarial drug resistance in Africa, an initiative to stop the spread of Anopheles stephensi in urban environments.
The strategies also entail a framework to guide city leaders in urban malaria control, and a toolkit to help countries assess their malaria surveillance systems and identify areas for investment.
WHO has also made its consolidated guidelines for malaria available on two digital platforms, the MAGICapp, and the “Malaria Toolkit” app, for increased transparency, flexibility, and access to its malaria recommendations.
Countries are encouraged to tailor these recommendations to their specific disease settings for maximum impact.
Prospects for new interventions
Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, but there is hope for the future with continued investment in the development and deployment of new interventions.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), investing in new malaria vaccines and next-generation tools will be crucial for achieving the 2030 global malaria targets.
One such intervention is the R21/Matrix-M (R21) vaccine, which could help reduce child illness and death from malaria.
The vaccine is currently undergoing phase 3 trials, and once additional key safety and efficacy data are available, the WHO will conduct a thorough review before considering approval.
In addition, the phased introduction of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in more countries in Africa is expected to begin in early 2024.
This vaccine has already been proven to be effective in reducing cases of malaria in young children.
The development of new tools for vector control is also underway, with 28 new products in the research and development pipeline.
These tools include new types of insecticide-treated nets, targeted baits that attract mosquitoes, spatial repellents, lethal house lures (eaves tubes), and genetic engineering of mosquitoes.
Researchers are also working on the development of non-ACT treatments for malaria due to the emergence and spread of partial artemisinin resistance.
Next-generation medicines, such as “triple ACTs,” which use a combination of artemisinin and two partner drugs, are being developed to reduce the risk of drug resistance.
In conclusion, continued investment in the development of new malaria interventions is critical for achieving global malaria targets.
These new tools and medicines could have a significant impact on reducing the burden of malaria and moving towards a malaria-free world.
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