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He was speaking at an event held to mark World Malaria Day held each year on April 25 to reaffirm the commitment towards malaria elimination. The theme for this year World Malaria Day is “Ready to Beat Malaria”.
Malaria season lasts from August to November. Majority of population is at risk of malaria with 3.5 million presumed and confirmed malaria cases annually, he said.
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According Directorate of Malaria Control in 2016 there were 324,024 confirmed malaria cases reported through national malaria disease surveillance system.
However, during the same period 3.1 million cases were clinically diagnosed and treated at public sector outpatient facilities and 34 deaths due to malaria were reported in 2016.
Dr Achakzai said that effective interventions such as the use Rapid Diagnostic Tests and Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies for the treatment of falciparum malaria and the promotion of long lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs) has brought a revolution in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention programme of the country.
Malaria Programme National Coordinator Professor Aamer Ikram said federal and the provincial governments besides partners like The Global Fund were investing resources to control and eliminate malaria from Pakistan.
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The Global Fund has provided more than $100 million over the last five years to implement malaria grant in 66 highest endemic districts and agencies of Fata, K-P, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab. With the same support, more than 4,000 diagnostic and treatment centres have been established so that confirmed case is treated with quality drugs.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 26th, 2018.
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