WHO report discusses the future of malaria eradication

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group on Malaria Eradication (SAGme) has published a report commenting on the prospects of malaria eradication, and suggesting action that needs to be taken in the future.

The report says that accelerated research and development (R&D) in new tools for malaria prevention and treatment is the key to eradicating the virus in the foreseeable future. Currently, less than 1% of funding for health R&D investment goes towards developing tools to tackle malaria.

The report also outlines the urgent need for progress to advance universal health coverage and improve access to services and better surveillance to guide a more targeted malaria response.

The group has published an executive summary of its report ahead of a WHO-hosted forum to be held in Geneva on 9 September 2019.

Global malaria infection and death rates have remained virtually unchanged since 2015. The WHO’s world malaria report in 2018 revealed that the world is currently off-track in achieving a 90% reduction of malaria incidence and mortality by 2030, goals set out in the WHO Global Technical Strategy for malaria 2016-2030.

Source: WHO, 23 August 2019