Decline in World Malaria Deaths

 As we know, malaria is an infectious disease that many countries are attempting to deal with. Individuals, non-governemnt organizations, and states have tried to find way to reduce the effects of malaria, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the disease. And, according to a World Health Organization report (in Al Jazeera), the death rates from malaria have fallen greatly since 2000. Much of the reason for this is that more people are being diagnosed, and more are also receiving treatment. However, “…progress against the mosquito-borne infection remains fragile and West African countries suffering an unprecedented epidemic of Ebola are particularly at risk of seeing a resurgence of malaria, the United Nations health agency said. In its annual report on the disease, the WHO said the malaria death rate fell by 47 percent worldwide between 2000 and 2013 and by 54 percent in Africa, where about 90 percent of all malaria deaths occur” (Al Jazeera, 2014).

This is indeed great news. It is important to continue to act against malaria. This includes additional information campaigns, more hospitals and treatment facilities, more mosquito tents, and more domestic and international coordination between local actors, governments, and international actors (which includes action through international organizations). In addition, there needs to be more resources in countries that are fighting both malaria and the Ebola virus; countries such as Sierre Leone, Guinea, and Liberia have faced significant challenges against both diseases. Regarding such states, “the WHO called for temporary control measures, including giving malaria drugs to all patients with fever and carrying out mass treatment in areas hard hit by both Ebola and malaria” (Al Jazeera, 2014).