Experts emphasise joint strategy to eliminate malaria

PESHAWAR: The Malaria Day was observed at Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar, where an event was held in collaboration with the Institute of Public Health and Social Sciences (IPH&SS), Frontier Primary Healthcare (FPHC), Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department.

The objective of the event was to create awareness about the deadly but treatable and preventable disease like malaria and to promote joint efforts to eliminate it. A large number of partner organizations, public health experts, faculty members and students participated in the event.

Dr. Aimal Khan from Frontier Primary Healthcare and Dr. Irshad Roghani from Indus Hospital Health Network shared their experiences and suggestions for malaria prevention. Director IPH&SS Dr. Khalid Rehman highlighted the impact of malaria globally and emphasized that it is a life-threatening disease, but it is also completely treatable and preventable.

Dr. Humaira Atta (FPHC) provided details about the malaria burden in Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the ongoing malaria control activities supported by the Global Fund.The participants were informed at the event that this year’s theme for World Malaria Day is “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reunite, and Re-manage”. The theme aims to promote partnerships, improved financial resources, innovations and renewed commitment to eliminate malaria.

KMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Ziaul Haq emphasized the importance of effective strategies and sustainable actions, citing challenges such as the current security situation, climate change and insecticide resistance. He stressed the need to generate financial resources at the local level and promote operational research in this field. Dr Ziaul Haq said that malaria is a treatable and preventable disease that requires joint efforts.