More than 250 million people worldwide contract malaria each year, while approximately one million die from the disease, according to the World Health Organization.Senior physician, Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ), Dr. Zubair Ahmed Sheikh stated this while speaking to the media persons in connection with World Malaria Day. The health expert said Africa remained the most affected region, accounting for about 90 percent of reported cases globally.

He emphasized that World Malaria Day was no longer limited to raising awareness but had become a decisive turning point in the fight against the disease.He noted that new vaccines, effective treatments, advanced control tools, and emerging technologies such as genetic modification of mosquitoes were playing a significant role in combating the disease.

Dr. Sheikh added that millions of children were being vaccinated annually in several countries, while next-generation mosquito nets were being distributed on a large scale, helping to curb the spread of the disease. The health expert said the national-level programs was also becoming increasingly visible to control the disease on the ground.He further stated that malaria remained a major challenge in Pakistan and other developing countries, despite ongoing efforts by governments and health institutions to eliminate the disease.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)