177m at risk of malaria in Pakistan

Experts say 13 out of 100 people suffer from malaria in K-P

PESHAWAR: Pakistan has a population of 220 million inhabitants of which 177 million are at risk of malaria, said health experts at World Malaria Day held at Khyber Medical College.

With 3.5 million presumed and confirmed cases annually, malaria in Pakistan is typically unstable and major transmission period is post monsoon from August to November, they explained at the event held to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. World Malaria Day is a moment to reflect on the great harm malaria does.

The theme for World Malaria Day 2019, “Zero malaria starts with me”, suggests this hope and emphasises country ownership and community empowerment for malaria prevention and care.

According to a study published in Annals of Reviews and Research in September 2018, the prevalence rate of malaria in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 13.81%. It is noticed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the most malaria-affected province of Pakistan as compared to the other three provinces i.e., Punjab (2.4%), Sindh (10.8%) and Baluchistan (3.8%).

A renowned physician Prof Dr Muhammad Hamayun said that prevention is an important component of malaria control in endemic countries which is achieved through vector control, personal protection measures such as insecticide-treated bed nets, preventive treatment with anti-malarial drugs of vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, who receive intermittent preventive treatment.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease affecting us since ages. Malaria has affected humans by causing symptoms that typically can range from fever, tiredness, vomiting, jaundice, and headaches to condition as severe as seizures, coma or death.

The Social Welfare Society of Health Education Wing KMC arranged poster competition, scavenger hunt, quiz competition, awareness walk, and prize distribution to mark the World Malaria Day. The walk was attended by MBBS students of all years, faculty staff, management staff, TMOs’ and HOs. The chief guest of World Malaria Day was Dean KMC Prof Dr Noorul Eman along with Chairman Medicine Prof Dr Muhammad Hamayun and Prof Dr Faizur Rehman.

Nearly half the world’s population lives in areas at risk of malaria transmission in 91 countries and territories. In 2016, malaria caused an estimated 216 million clinical episodes and 445,000 deaths. An estimated 90% of deaths in 2016 were in the WHO African Region. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2019.