Islamabad : Malaria poses a threat to people of all ages but studies indicate that youngest children are suffering the most as children under five are the most vulnerable, officials and public health experts warned and called for adopting preventive measures to reduce deaths due to malaria in Pakistan.
“Malaria is significant global health challenge, particularly for the most vulnerable among us: children under the age of 5. Despite advancements in prevention and treatment, this age group continues to bear the brunt of the disease's devastating impact. Studies suggest that a staggering 86% of malaria deaths reported are in this age group”, Prof. Shahzad Ali Khan, Vice Chancellor, Health Services Academy (HSA) said while speaking at an event in connection with World Malaria Day 2024 in Islamabad.
The event was organised by the Common Management Unit (CMU) to fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria to commemorate World Malaria Day here at a local hotel and it was also addressed by World Health Organization’s representative in Pakistan Dr. Luo Dapeng, Special Secretary Health Syed Waqar ul Hassan, National Coordinator for CMU Dr. Razia Fatima
HSA Vice Chancellor said half of Pakistan’s overall mortality is under five years of age and if authorities manage to reduce child mortality then Pakistan’s life expectancy and indicators will improve as child mortality mainly is driven by Diarrhea, Pneumonia and Malaria. He maintained that as eradicating mosquitoes was not practically possible, using insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs) was the most effective way to prevent mosquito bites, especially at night when malaria-transmitting mosquitoes are most active while applying insect repellents, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active could prevent people from contracting Malaria.
In addition to that, eliminating breeding sites around residential areas by clearing stagnant water from containers, ditches, and other areas was also an effective mechanism. On the occasion, he suggested that events like World Malaria Day should be held at educational institutions like Universities and offered the halls of Health Services Academy (HSA) for holding awareness activities and scientific conferences.
Special Secretary Health Syed Waqar-ul-Hasan deplored that over reliance on insecticides and pesticides not only resulted in the development of resistance among mosquitoes but also damaged the ecosystems and a reduction in the number of sparrows, toads and dragon flies among other creatures helped mosquitoes and other vectors to thrive in the environment. He called for a united effort from all stakeholders, including policymakers, civil society organisations, UN agencies, NGOs, communities, and healthcare providers.
CMU’s national coordinator Dr. Razia Fatima said her unit in collaboration with the provincial programs and with the support of the Global Fund and partnership with the Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) is providing free of cost malaria prevention, diagnostic and treatment interventions through more than 5,500 public and private healthcare facilities in far-flung areas of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.
With the GF support, about 11.1 million suspected were tested for malaria, and 2.6 million confirmed cases were successfully treated during last year. Further, 6.1 million ITNs were distributed in 20 high burden districts. Dr. Fatima highlighted the importance of innovative measures and scale up of preventive services for Malaria, he added. Dr. Luo Dapeng, WHO Representative Pakistan, said he belongs to a remote area in China where malaria was endemic and in childhood he contracted the disease on several occasions so he knew about horrors of the vector-borne disease.
Dr. Dapeng reaffirmed WHO's commitment to combat malaria and support initiatives for a malaria-free Pakistan. He lauded the accelerated response of national and provincial programs to combat malaria outbreaks during floods, while presenting an animated video providing a historical overview of the malaria situation. On the occasion, students from different universities were awarded certificates and prizes for their posters on the theme of prevention and control of malaria.
