The impact of global malaria efforts
Since its inception in 1998, the RBM Partnership has played a critical role in global efforts that reduced malaria deaths by over 60% and saved 7 million lives. The Partnership is now committed to building on these significant gains and ending malaria for good.
During this time, the world has seen unprecedented progress in relation to malaria: the disease burden and transmission, global health architecture, international environment and leadership — notably by malaria-affected countries — have all changed considerably.
We are seeing more countries heading towards elimination. The European Region remains malaria-free. A number of African countries have achieved impressive improvements in diagnostic testing and surveillance.
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More than half of the African population today has access to a long-lasting incecticide treated net – up from just 2% in 2001
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More countries than ever – 44 – report less than 10,000 malaria cases, which means elimination is within reach
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Innovations have accelerated in recent years – including new vaccines, treatments and rapid diagnostic tests, and ways to counter insecticide resistance
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Since 2010, 11 countries have been certified malaria free (Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Morocco, Paraguay, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan) and 11 more countries are on track to eliminate malaria by 2020.
Yet, after an unprecedented period of success in malaria control, progress has stalled, according to WHO’s World Malaria Report 2017, and we must redouble our efforts in the coming years.
