WorldHealth Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo said significant progress has been made in Africa in the fight against malaria, adding, however that there was the need to consolidate on the gains achieved so far.

Sambo, in his message on this year’s World Malaria Day, said it was encouraging that malaria control alliances were being strengthened throughout Africa. “For example, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA)
is committed to support elimination of preventable malaria deaths by 2015. The African Union and Regional Economic Communities have also kept malaria high on their health and development agenda,” he added.

“Countries and partners are making commendable efforts to accelerate and sustain progress in malaria prevention and control in our Region. Endemic countries have reflected malaria control in their poverty reduction strategies. Programme reviews are ongoing and strategic plans are being updated to take into account funding and capacity gaps to reach universal access.

“The success rate for malaria proposals for the Global Fund (GFATM) reached 80 per cent in Round 10. Consequently, effective interventions including protection from the mosquito through the use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), prompt treatment of malaria cases using Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnant women (IPTp) and infants (IPTi) are being adapted and scaled up,” Sambo explained.

“By the end of 2010, 11 countries had registered more than 50 per cent reduction in malaria cases and deaths;  the proportion of households owning at least one insecticide treated net (ITN) was 42 per cent and 35 per cent of children under five years of age slept under an ITN."

In order to consolidate on the gains achieved so far, he said there was the need to strengthen performance and accountability; mobilisation of additional resources; linking disease programme development and health systems strengthening ; better coordination of stakeholders and partners under national stewardship; and effective involvement of every exposed individual and community.


“ Among the critical challenges that countries need to address are: weak surveillance, monitoring and evaluation capacity ; inadequate operational research platforms; lack of implementation of regulatory measures such as the ban on oral Artemisinin-based monotherapies and inadequate monitoring of parasite resistance to antimalarial medications and mosquito resistance to insecticides”, he added.

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