ANTI-MALARIA MONTH: WHAT INDIA EXACTLY NEEDS TO ELIMINATE MALARIA BY 2030

Malaria has been one of India’s long-standing public health problems. Through this open letter, I call for urgent action and your participation in the fight against malaria. The Government of India remains committed to eliminating malaria. In 2016, India introduced its first National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016-2030) with the aim of achieving our Honourable Prime Minister’s dream of malaria-mukt Bharat by 2030.

According to the World Malaria Report 2022, India accounted for 79% of cases in the WHO South-East Asia Region and 83% of all malaria deaths in the region. Around 95% of Indians live in malaria-endemic regions, and 80% of malaria cases reported there are restricted to areas with 20% of the population living in tribal, hilly, challenging, and inaccessible areas. 

There is an urgent need for corporate leaders and the private sector to come together and support India’s fight against malaria. There is no denying that malaria cases have decreased, and that progress has been made. 

However, with your help, we can develop techniques that hasten the elimination of malaria and save countless lives. The private sector can support efforts by investing in research and development to accelerate progress towards a malaria-free country. Your support for malaria control programs and your expertise can help scale these programs and make a real impact in the fight against malaria. 

Awareness building is a key area. It ensures people have the information they need to protect themselves and their communities. Resources are also directed at advocating for action to ensure malaria elimination remains a priority.

When the pandemic struck India in 2019, it left the entire nation in shock and agony. The entire community came together in the war against the outbreak, with common purpose. People from different walks of life came together and supported each other. Likewise, I urge you to act today to help eliminate malaria in India. 

Only collective action can help our country achieve a historic and inspirational feat – eliminating malaria and paving the way for a malaria-free future for generations. We need to stand together in this fight and ensure every Indian has a healthy and prosperous future.

The writer is Country Director, Malaria No More. The views expressed are his own.

2023-06-05T12:48:25Z dg43tfdfdgfd