Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: invest, innovate, implement
To eliminate Malaria and Aedes-borne diseases, the Communicable Diseases Control Unit of the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organized a high-level event on World Malaria Day 2023 on 15th June 2023 engaging Hon’ble Minister, MOHFW, Zahid Maleque MP as the chief guest. Prof. Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General of Health Services chaired the event. At this event, Dr Md Ekramul Haque, DPM, NMEP & ATD delivered the welcome speech and Prof. Dr. Md. Nazmul Islam, Director of Disease Control & Line Director CDC presented the keynote.
The event was graced by presence of special guests; Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WR to WHO Bangladesh, Prof. Dr. Ahmedul Kabir, ADG (Planning and Development), DGHS, Dr Rasheda Sultana, ADG (Admin}, DGHS with their knowledgeable and resourceful speeches. This year the theme of World Malaria Day 2023 was “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”.
Globally, there are twenty-nine countries that accounted for 96% of malaria cases. In Bangladesh, over 90% of cases are from 3 hill-track districts of Chattogram division; Bandarban district alone accounted for about three-fourths of all cases in the country. The majority of the malaria cases in Bangladesh are reported from hard-to-reach areas and certain high-risk groups like Jhum cultivators, forest goers, and ethnic minorities; mostly from Bandarban district.
Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative deliver speech, Photo credit: Dr Jahangir Alam
As Special guest Dr Bardan Jung Rana delivered his speech and said, People-centered health system approach can help the country reaching the unreached. Concentrated and coordinated efforts by the Bangladesh government, development partners, and the people of Bangladesh can make this happen. Tools like R&D (research & development) for vector control; Malaria vaccine development; New diagnostics technologies, and Next-generation medicines like “triple ACTs” will accelerate progress toward malaria elimination and WHO is working towards investing in these tools. Dr Bardan added, WHO supported a malaria joint monitoring mission in July – August 2022. The Malaria National Strategic Plan/NSP for 2024-2030 was updated based on recommendations from the joint mission. WHO representatives applauded the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Directorate General of Health Services, the national malaria elimination program, and frontline health workers for commendable job in achieving these results.
Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Zahid Maleque MP delivered his speech and said, from 2008 to 2022, remarkable efforts by the Government of Bangladesh reduced malaria cases by 79%, and deaths by 91%. It is because of the strong commitment from the government, innovative interventions, and hard work at all levels of the country’s health system. Hon’ble Minister added, the commitment of the government of Bangladesh to eliminate malaria by 2030, and the efforts made by the NMEP, CDC, and DGHS are also appreciable.
Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative visits the “Swastho Mela” organized by NMEP, Photo credit: Dr Jahangir Alam