By Shahina Maqbool
Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan have agreed to develop a joint annual action plan for control of malaria in marginalised populations living on the border areas of the three countries as a first step towards provision of universal access for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the disease.
The three countries articulated the need for strong political commitment and strengthened coordination while joining hands for development of a joint roadmap for malaria control in their respective populations at the conclusion of the three-day 4th Cross-border Malaria Coordination meeting hosted by Pakistan here from September 29-October 1.
One of the key recommendations emerging from the meeting pertains to strengthening of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan Malaria Network (PIAMNET) functions through the establishment of a Network Secretariat. PIAMNET was established last year during the 3rd cross-border meeting held in Iran.
Experts attending the meeting pleaded that the governments of the three countries should resolve all administrative problems to ensure access to quality diagnostic treatment and preventive interventions for the target populations. They also underlined the need to coordinate and harmonise malaria control activities in the border areas of the three countries.
The participants discussed the malaria situation in the region, shared ongoing progress and challenges, future plans for strengthening of malaria surveillance and monitoring and evaluation, experiences from the field, updates for anti-malaria drug monitoring, status of resistance to anti-malarial drugs and containment strategies.
The meeting discussed ground realities and devised a framework of proposals to mobilize resources from the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), USAID, UN agencies and other partners. USAID has already expressed its interest to support malaria control efforts in Pakistan, particularly in the bordering areas of the three countries.
The meeting was attended by the delegates from the three countries in question. Federal Minister for Health Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani and WHO Representative Dr. Khalif Bile Mohamud chaired the opening and closing sessions of the meeting, respectively. The Iranian delegation was headed by their deputy minister for health Dr. Imami Razavi. Representatives of development partners including USAID were also present on the occasion.
Speaking as chief guest at the concluding session, Dr. Bile called for mobilization of indigenous resources by the respective countries to ensure universal coverage of malaria control interventions including early diagnosis, prompt and effective treatment, and preventive services for the affected populations of the border areas.
Dr. Bile appreciated the progress achieved by the three countries in developing cross-border coordination for malaria control in the highly-endemic bordering districts and agencies of Balochistan and FATA. He hoped that development partners would contribute to achieving the malaria-related MDG targets by mobilizing resources and technical assistance.
“I hope that the newly-established PIAMNET will play a pivotal role in strengthening cross-border collaboration in malaria control efforts and will set an example for other disease control programmes in line with the international commitments made in the Kabul Declaration in 2006,” Dr. Bile said. He acknowledged that malaria control interventions will contribute to health systems strengthening in these border areas and will undoubtedly improve the quality of life of the local underprivileged populations.
Pakistan is reporting over 100,000 confirmed cases of malaria per year, 37% of
which are occurring in the border areas.