NEW DELHI: India and 10 other countries in sub-Saharan Africa accounted for around 70 per cent of estimated malaria cases (151 million) and deaths (274,000) globally last year, with only India reporting progress in reducing its malaria cases when compared to 2016, a report said Monday.
India has turned out as the only country among the 11 highest-burden countries to mark progress in reducing its disease burden, registering a 24 per cent decrease in 2017 compared to 2016, according to WHO World Malaria Report 2018.
By leading the world in malaria case reductions in 2017, India is no longer among the top three countries with the highest malaria burdens. However, 1.25 billion Indians remain at risk of malaria.
India has set a target of being malaria-free by 2027 and eliminating the disease by 2030.
Despite marginal increases in recent years in the distribution and use of insecticide-treated bed nets in sub-Saharan Africa, the primary tool for preventing malaria, the report highlighted major coverage gaps.
In 2017, an estimated half of at-risk people in Africa did not sleep under a treated net. Also, fewer homes are being protected by indoor residual spraying than before, and access to preventive therapies that protect pregnant women and children from malaria remains too low.
According to the report, the number of countries nearing elimination continues to grow (46 in 2017 compared to 37 in 2010). (AGENCIES)
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