‘Reaching Zero’ forum on Malaria

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World Malaria Day was celebrated virtually under the aegis of Union Health Minister Mr. Harsh Vardhan on 23rd April. Every year 25th April is celebrated as ‘World Malaria Day’.

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The Minister chaired the ‘Reaching Zero’ forum on malaria elimination to celebrate World Malaria Day, through a video conference.

The theme for this year is ‘Reaching the Zero Malaria target’. World Malaria day celebration provides inspiration to all global communities that are working to eliminate this deadly disease and improve the health and livelihood of their people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the 18 Global leaders who advocated the Malaria Elimination roadmap of Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance at the East Asia Summit held in Malaysia in 2015. It was decided to eliminate malaria by 2030 in the region.

The country has shown remarkable result in reducing the malaria burden in terms of cases by 84.5% and deaths by 83.6% which has been well recognized by World Malaria Reports of 2018, 2019, and 2020.

In 2020, as many as 116 districts in the Country reported zero malaria cases.

It is hoped that with active community participation and sound inter-sectoral coordination, India will be able to achieve its malaria elimination target by 2030.

The country developed a National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2017–2022) together with key partners such as WHO, state actors, Regional Offices for Health and Family Welfare, research institutions, civil society and several others.