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The recently launched World Malaria Report 2019 includes good news for Asia Pacific—malaria caseloads are falling and 3 countries in the region have reported zero indigenous malaria cases: China, Malaysia and Timor Leste. The same report also highlights that elimination will not be feasible without addressing relapsing malaria in Asia-Pacific.
Close to half (47%) of all relapsing malaria cases in the world were found in India last year. Curing this strain requires better diagnostic and treatment tools including simplified, single dose radical cure treatment as well as more sensitive screening tests that can be used with women as well as men.
To address this burgeoning challenge, the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA)—a coalition of Heads of State from 22 countries in Asia Pacific committed to eliminating malaria by 2030—announces a partnership with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) to jointly work toward faster introduction of and scaled access to innovative products to help countries eliminate all strains of malaria.
Engaging senior government officials will be a strong focus for this collaboration, in line with the malaria elimination recommitment made by the regional leaders at the East Asia Summit 2019.
“This pernicious strain of relapsing malaria continues to battle policy makers and programmers.” explains Dr Ben Rolfe, CEO of APLMA. “This important partnership between MMV, PATH and APLMA will improve access to game-changing tools needed to achieve a malaria-free Asia Pacific.”
More information can be found at http://www.vivaxmalaria.org and http://aplma.org
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