World Malaria Day 2022 | Harnessing Innovation To Reduce The Malaria Disease Burden And Save Lives.

World Malaria Day (WMD) is an international observance commemorated every year on the 25th of April. It is a day set aside to recognize the global efforts in combating Malaria. WMD, first observed in 2008, evolved out of Africa Malaria Day, which had been observed annually since 2001, when African Leaders meeting under the auspices of the African Union signed the Abuja Declaration, committing to step-up efforts in fighting and eradicating Malaria in Africa. The theme for World Malaria Day 2022 is to harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives.

As a youth-led and youth-serving organization, The Youth Café commemorates World Malaria Day 2022 by advocating for the provision and increase of health care services for young people all across the country. Environmental management by the youth will be a major step to curbing the spread of Malaria by eradicating breeding spots for mosquitoes. This creates an urgency to increase climate change literacy programs and innovation platforms where young people can actively engage and participate in finding solutions to the environmental challenges contributing to Malaria cases in the country.

Facts and figures to note during World Malaria Day 2022 are; Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites and transmitted to people through the bites of the infected female anopheles mosquito. There are five known species of malaria-causing parasites; in Kenya, Plasmodium falciparum, which is most frequently associated with severe Malaria, accounts for 80-90% of reported cases. Nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting Malaria. In Kenya, 70% of the population – approximately 39 million people across 28 counties - are perpetually at risk of contracting Malaria.

Without access to prevention and treatment measures, the impact of the infection can be long-term and life-threatening, including anemia, coma, brain damage, loss of muscle function, and death. In 2020, there were 241 million cases of Malaria and 671,000 deaths globally. 95% of the cases and 96% of the deaths were in Africa. 80% of the deaths were of children under the age of 5. In Kenya, an estimated 3.5 million new cases and 10,700 deaths were attributed to Malaria. Pregnant women and their newborns are particularly vulnerable to Malaria due to their low immunity levels. In 2020, 515,328 malaria-related deaths across Africa were of children under the age of 5 – in 2020, every minute across Africa, one child died of Malaria.

The economic impact of Malaria is estimated at US$ 12 billion in Africa alone. In Kenya, 170 million workdays are lost each year because of Malaria. Recent research findings indicate that as much as 50% of medically-related school absenteeism is attributed to Malaria. Ending Malaria worldwide by 2030 is a key objective within the UN Sustainable Goal #3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. Kenya aims to end Malaria by 2030 and has defined a clear pathway through the Kenya Malaria Strategy.

Long-lasting insecticide-treated nets are the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent the transmission of Malaria. One bed net can protect two people for up to 3 years. Globally, malaria control and elimination require billions of dollars in investment and a concerted effort between governments, health care providers, and communities to create awareness, increase prevention and provide treatment.

Countries that have achieved at least three consecutive years with no local cases of Malaria are eligible to apply for certification of malaria elimination. By 2020, Algeria, Belize, Cape Verde, China, El Salvador, Iran, Malaysia, and Paraguay had all succeeded in meeting the WHOs goal of malaria elimination.

The Youth Café works with young men and women around Africa as a trailblazer in advancing youth-led approaches toward achieving sustainable development, social equity, innovative solutions, community resilience, and transformative change.

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