April 25, 2010 - a critical moment in the fight against malaria, not only for being marked as the third annual ‘World Malaria Day’ but also as a reminder saying that less than a year left for malaria-endemic countries to reach the Roll Back Malaria 2010 targets, the united efforts of governments, nongovernmental organizations, companies, researchers, policymakers, funders, health workers, and individuals matter more than ever.
 The plan is that by the end of 2010:

• 80% of people at risk from malaria are using locally appropriate vector control methods such as long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLins), indoor residual spraying (irS) and, in some settings, other environmental and biological measures.
• 80% of malaria patients are diagnosed and treated with effective anti-malarial treatments.
• In areas of high transmission, 100% of pregnant women receive intermittent preventive treatment (iPT);
• The global malaria burden is reduced by 50% of the 2000 levels: ~175-250M cases annually and less than 500,000 deaths annually from malaria.

The following graph from the Global Malaria Plan shows the projected effects of these interventions on different timelines.  Acting quickly will save lives.

Graphical representation of Global Malaria Plan

RBM (Rollback Malaria):
The RBM Partnership is the global framework to implement coordinated action against malaria. It mobilizes for action and resources and forges consensus among partners. The Partnership is comprised of more than 500 partners, including malaria endemic countries, their bilateral and multilateral development partners, the private sector, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions.
RBM’s overall strategy aims to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality by reaching universal coverage and strengthening health systems.

The Global Malaria action Plan (GMAP)

The GMAP outlines the RBM Partnership’s vision for a substantial and sustained reduction in the burden of malaria in the near and mid-term, and the eventual global eradication of malaria in the long term, when new tools make eradication possible. To reach this vision, the targets of the GMAP are to:

• Achieve universal coverage, as recently called for by the UN Secretary-General, for all populations at risk with locally appropriate interventions for prevention and case management by 2010 and sustain universal coverage until local field research suggests that coverage can gradually be targeted to high risk areas and seasons only, without risk of a generalized resurgence
• Reduce global malaria cases from 2000 levels by 50% in 2010 and by 75% in 2015
• Reduce global malaria deaths from 2000 levels by 50% in 2010 and to near zero preventable deaths in 2015
• Eliminate malaria in 8-10 countries by 2015 and afterwards in all countries in the pre-elimination phase today
• In the long term, eradicate malaria world-wide by reducing the global incidence to zero through progressive elimination in countries.

To achieve these targets, the GMAP outlines a three-part global strategy:

1. control malaria to reduce the current burden and sustain control as long as necessary;
2. eliminate malaria over time country by country; and
3. research new tools and approaches to support global control and elimination efforts

Statements whirled around the occasion:

"Malaria defeated the international community many years ago. We cannot allow this to happen again. A single global action plan for malaria control, that enjoys Partnership-wide support, is a strong factor for success."

Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization

"I believe that if you show people a problem, and then you show them the solution, they will be moved to act. The Global Malaria Action Plan lays out an achievable blueprint for fighting malaria – now it's time for the world to take action."

Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

"The Global Malaria Action Plan aims to ensure that no country is left behind in the global fight against malaria - comprehensive, continent-wide coverage is critical to long-term success."

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Minister of Health of Ethiopia

"It is imperative that universal coverage of prevention and treatment for the millions of people who suffer and die from malaria is attained. The Global Malaria Action Plan will guide and unify the malaria community in its efforts to provide timely and effective assistance to endemic countries. With sufficient funding and political support, this plan will help us reap dramatic gains against malaria in the coming years."

Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership

"The Global Malaria Action Plan makes a strong case for investing in malaria. I urge advocates in countries and at global level to use this plan to mobilize resources for malaria control and help answer the UN Secretary General's call for universal access to malaria prevention and treatment."

Ray Chambers, UN Special Envoy for Malaria

Events in India:

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Counting Malaria Out Campaign

An awareness campaign against "Malaria" had been run in the slum area of Aligarh by Tulsi Gramodyog Seva Samiti, Uttar Pradesh on World Malaria day this year. Mosquito Nets were distributed to the less privileged families of the slum area of Aligarh by the society. Pesticides were also spread by the volunteers of Tulsi Gramodyog in the slum and mosquito affected area of Aligarh.

Malaria in Pregnancy (MiP):
Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) can have serious health outcomes for both the mother and infant and thus presents a major public health challenge. An estimated 10,000 women and 200,000 of their infants die each year as a result of malaria infection during pregnancy.

Study team in action--evaluating pregnant women in Jharkhand

MiP studies in India:

As most MiP studies were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, limited epidemiological data exist for MiP outside of Africa. Several studies conducted by researchers at Boston University and the Indian National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) have been recently implemented in east India with the aim of building the empirical evidence to better define the global risk map of MiP. In honor of World Malaria Day, the Maternal Health Task Force invited Bram Brooks and David Hamer, fellows from these institutions to get the overview of what they have learned.

Results & Findings:

The India MiP study consisted of a series of cross-sectional surveys and involved the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data in several urban and rural districts in the Indian states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The study findings indicated that the prevalence of malaria among pregnant women in east India was approximately 2-3%. In addition, malaria parasites were more common in pregnant women with fever, those living in rural areas, and women who were pregnant for the first time. The results from the series of MiP studies in India support other findings that show malaria mortality and morbidity in pregnant women are much lower outside of Africa. Although the magnitude of malaria-associated morbidity outside of Africa is smaller, the number of global individuals at risk is considerable.

References:        
http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/eupdate/rbmEupdate2010-05-06.html
http://www.rollbackmalaria.org/gmap/
http://membracid.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/world-malaria-day-2010/
http://www.worldmalariaday.org/live_detail_en.cfm?id=523

Marchesini P, Crawley J. Reducing the burden of malaria. MERA/RBM/WHO Jan 2004.

 You heard the buzz...Now get ready for bite!

Indian Phrase in the temper of World Malaria Day