Inclusion of malaria control in Pakistan’s disease priority list demanded

Islamabad: Pakistan needs to include malaria control in its disease priority list once again. Furthermore, a high-level Malaria control and elimination task force should immediately be constituted to mobilize domestic resources and track progress towards the target of a malaria-free Pakistan by 2030.

The Director of Malaria Control Dr. Baseer Khan Achakzai floated these recommendations at a seminar organised Wednesday in connection with World Malaria Day, which is commemorated on April 25 every year to re-prioritise the need to overcome existing challenges impeding malaria elimination.

Dr. Baseer said efforts against malaria control need to be enhanced with strong political commitment, financial resources and improved surveillance involving the use of new and improved tools. “We should not lose the gains made against malaria,” he asserted.

Dr. Baseer informed that national strategies, policies and guidelines fully aligned with targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and WHO ‘Global Technical Strategy’ are already in place. He highlighted how the expansion of interventions such as the use Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs), Artemesinin-based Combination Therapies for the treatment of falciparum malaria and the promotion of long-lasting Insecticide-treated bed nets has brought about a revolution in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of malaria in Pakistan.

“Pakistan is planning to integrate all vector borne disease control programmes under one umbrella to achieve maximum results as the mode of spread is the same,” Dr. Baseer shared. Speaking on the occasion, Professor Dr. Aamer Ikram said malaria is a disease having severe socio-economic and health consequences. He said, the incidence of deadly form of falciparum malaria has been remarkably reduced over the last five years, thanks to the support of partner agencies, donor organizations and private sector.

The Global Fund has provided support worth US $100 million over the last five years to implement the malaria grant. The Global Fund grant is currently being implemented in 66 highest endemic districts and agencies of FATA, KP, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab. With the same support, more than 4,000 diagnostic and treatment centres have been established so that each suspected case is tested and confirmed case is treated with quality drugs.

More than 14 million bed nets have been distributed. In 2018, an additional 3 million bed nets will be distributed in 12 highest endemic districts/agencies of Pakistan. In 2019, 2.7 million bed nets will be distributed in 17 districts/agencies of Pakistan, the audience were informed.