-As 38% of people die of malaria
By Alfred Kollie Email: alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
As Liberian joined the rest of the World to commemorate World Malaria Day, health officials underscored the need to intensify the fight against the disease caused by mosquitoes.
Programs to mark the April 25, 2019 national observance in Liberia was held in Sinje district, the western Grand Cape Mount County with a grand parade on the principle streets of Sinje.
Ahead of the celebration, the program Manager at the National Malaria Control Program, Oliver J Partt told state radio, ELBC that Malaria was most acute in southeastern Liberia.
Malaria is caused by plasmodium parasite which can be spread to human through the bite of infected female anopheles mosquitos called malaria vector.
This year World Malaria Day has been celebrated under the theme,‘’Zero malaria starts with me’’ with a slogan, ‘’big belly prevent malaria- go to the clinic for your malaria medicine. The program brought together pregnant women, students, chiefs, local and international partners and government officials.
World Malaria Day, which take place on the 25th of April annually, is internationally recognized day highlighting the global effort and to raise awareness on the danger of malaria in the world.
Speaking Thursday at the ceremony in Sinje, the program Manager at the National Malaria Control Program, Oliver J Partt said to take the issue of malaria seriously across the country.
‘’Malaria is not just common but a disease that kills mostly children under the age five but need collective effort in defeating it,’’ Mr. Partt noted at the program.
According to Partt, about 38% of people die of malaria and is the most common cause for most hospital attendance across Liberia of recent.
‘’Malaria is serious and everyone must be a champion by preventing malarial at all time,’’ he explained.
For his part, the Proxy of Representative Mambu Sonii of Grand Cape Mount County, Owusu C. Fofana wants responsible fight in defeating malaria in the country and the World at large.
Fofana, who is an administrative Assistance to Representative Mambu Sonii in his keynote speech, urged all Liberians to use their strength as a nation and people in beating malaria to the last end.
‘’Urgently there are more need to be done for malaria eradications and grassroots participation in combating malaria,’’ Mr. Fofana said.
He said it is about time that grassroots movement play a bigger role in combating malaria instead of leaving it with International Partners alone.
‘’we urgently need to do more to be malaria and save millions more who otherwise needlessly die from the disease,’’ he observed.
‘’Malaria is not a friend, judging from the harmful impacts on our lives, we must not continue to see this disease raid us of lives that are so precious to us.’’
He noted that children under five year of age are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria in Liberia with most of them dying at the age of five.
According to Mr. Fofano, malaria remains both a major cause and a consequence of global poverty that must be urgently addressed by all.
He at the same time called on government, partners and citizens to take concrete action in supporting the Ministry of Health program on malaria fight in the country.
A statement from the World Health Organization Regional Director Dr. Mesfin Zbelo on the observance of World Malaria Day, said Malaria-endemic countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region have made significant progress.
According to WHO website, Malaria cases and deaths in the Region fell by more than 60% between 2000 and 2015, thanks to increased coverage of malaria control interventions.
In the same period, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco were certified free from malaria, while Egypt and Oman are preparing for certification of malaria-free status and the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia are progressing towards malaria elimination.
These great achievements have been possible because of the hard work of malaria-endemic countries plus support from WHO, donors and all partners in the Region.
However, progress in reducing the regional malaria burden is now stalling, and there has even been an increase in cases in some countries.
Unfortunately, civil unrest and war, unprecedented population movements, insufficient resources, gaps in coverage and the quality of interventions, environmental challenges including climate change, and the presence of invasive vectors are all contributing factors. In the World Malaria Report 2018, WHO estimates that we still have more than 4.4 million cases in our Region. With this trend, we will not meet our regional targets.