3 October 2022, Monrovia: Malaria remains to be one of many lead causes of loss of life in Africa; as such, investments within the management and eradication of malaria are key in direction of creating more healthy and extra prosperous societies that may confidently contribute to achievement of the sustainable improvement objectives. Liberia has launched the 5th nationwide malaria indicators survey. The survey goals at monitoring the nation’s progress in opposition to targets set within the Nationwide Strategic Plan. The family survey might be important in gathering info for most people on essential indicators of malaria prevalence, core malaria interventions equivalent to possession and use of mosquito nets, remedy of malaria in being pregnant, sorts of malaria parasites and monitoring anemia prevalence amongst youngsters aged 6-59 months. The survey may even analyze normal public data, attitudes, and practices on this space.
The visitor of honor on the occasion, Dr. Peter Clement, WHO Nation Consultant in Liberia, applauded the Liberian authorities for attaining this milestone.
“Congratulations, Liberia, for this essential milestone as a result of malaria continues to problem us and stays the principle explanation for sickness and loss of life in our communities. We should fight malaria with related instruments and approaches which can be evidence-based and that may information this system with well timed info that may set off a paradigm shift in malaria interventions. The result of the survey will unearth cost-effective and revolutionary instruments for malaria management and elimination in Liberia”, stated Dr. Clement Peter, WHO Consultant.
He additional added that based on WHO’s newest World Malaria Report (2021), the image seems to be gloomy on the illness burden, with an estimate of about 420 million instances in 2020 versus 241 million instances in 2019; malaria-related deaths catering for 627,000 in 2020, a rise of 69,000 within the earlier 12 months, and at the very least 47,000 linked to disruptions associated to the availability of malaria prevention, analysis, and remedy through the COVID-19 pandemic.
USAID’s Well being Director and PMI Lead, Ms. Jessica Healey, acknowledged that the survey rollout is certainly an ideal milestone contemplating that the elimination of malaria is a essential improvement precedence for the well being sector and Liberia as a complete.
“Being right here at this time provides me a lot pleasure because the survey was postponed a number of instances, first due to the DHS, then COVID-19. I’m additionally completely happy that from our routine well being knowledge, we’re seeing a decline within the variety of childhood malaria instances and associated deaths. Moreover, Liberia was the primary nation to launch a nationwide G2 mosquito nets distribution marketing campaign in 2021, demonstrating important progress. I stay up for the outcomes from this survey”, stated Ms Healey.
Chatting with the enumerators, the Hon. Minister of Well being, Dr Wihelmina Jallah, emphasised the necessity for high quality inputs from the staff because the success of the survey extremely is dependent upon them.
“Let’s attain each house that has been earmarked in our 150 clusters, particularly now that we’re conducting microscopic exams versus speedy exams for malaria. Over 2 million nets have been distributed previously years; we have to test if they’re being put to their meant use. We’re relying on you, our knowledge collectors, for the success of the survey”, stated Dr Jallah.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Peter highlighted that Liberia might be introducing malaria vaccines for kids below 5 years of age in 2023.
“In October 2021, the WHO beneficial the introduction of the malaria vaccine amongst youngsters within the area in areas with moderate-to-high malaria transmission, all in efforts to cut back the burden. The vaccine has been seen to considerably scale back malaria and its extreme kinds in youngsters. The survey comes at an opportune time when Liberia plans to introduce the vaccines in 2023. The vaccines might be a sport changer for kids below the age of 5” narrated Dr Peter.
The malaria indicators survey might be performed throughout the nation in all 15 counties, and residents are inspired to cooperate with enumerators as they gather knowledge within the communities.
The African Area alone catered for 95% of malaria instances globally in 2020, with 96% of deaths occurring in youngsters below the age of 5, who accounted for 80% of malaria deaths within the area. 4 African international locations accounted for over half of the malaria deaths globally, specifically Nigeria, the DRC, Tanzania, and Mozambique. The survey is being supported by varied companions, together with the US President’s Malaria Initiative, World Fund, WHO, and others.