Disruption Of Healthcare Due To COVID-19 Can Impact Fight Against Malaria

As anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine is in focus amid the COVID-19 crisis, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF have warned that the disruption of healthcare services can have an impact on the fight against malaria, especially in the sub-Saharan Africa where most malaria deaths happen.

The Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 calls for reducing malaria cases and deaths by at least 40 percent. 

Under-five children accounted for 67 per cent of all malaria deaths worldwide in 2018. Most of the deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 24 million children were infected with the deadliest form of malaria. Malaria is the third-deadliest infectious disease for children and the costs of treatment traps families in a cycle of illness, suffering and poverty.

"While focusing on combating this disease, the world cannot afford to ignore other diseases, such as malaria," said UNICEF. India also accounts for 4 percent of global malaria cases. 

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the global fight against malaria has shown a steady advance. The efforts represented one of the greatest triumphs of public health, and malaria deaths came down by nearly 60 percent. But that downward trend came to an end, and in 2017, WHO reported that the number of malaria cases had levelled off. Now, for a second consecutive year, the battle on a global scale has failed to make new gains and in some places, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, it has lost ground according to reports. 

However, while the African nations showed an increase in malaria cases, India had the numbers coming down but the impact of COVID-19 crisis remains to be seen. 

The Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 (GTS) calls for reducing malaria cases and deaths by at least 40 percent by 2020, 75 percent by 2025 and 90 percent by 2030.

"Without a major turnaround, these targets are unlikely to be met – a challenge further compounded by insufficient levels of funding for malaria control," the UNICEF report said. 

Investments in 2017 were less than half of the US$ 6.6 billion funding target set by the GTS for 2020. 

The UNICEF report added that changing the trajectory of the disease will require far more than smarter use of new and existing tools. 

"More than 4,00,000 people projected to die this year alone from a preventable and treatable disease, and a global response that is off track, we must move quickly and decisively," it added.