World Malaria Day: �Zero Malaria Starts With Me'

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Highlights:

• World Malaria Day is observed on the 25th of April every year
• The main aim of the campaign is to provide education and understanding of malaria as a preventable global scourge and a curable disease
• The theme for 2019 is 'Zero Malaria Starts With Me'

World Malaria Day is observed annually on 25th April around the world with the primary aim to increase global efforts for controlling malaria epidemic.

World Malaria Day theme for the year 2019 is 'Zero Malaria Starts With Me.'

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a life-threatening disease that is spread to humans through infected mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of malaria are fever, chills, and flu-like illness. The disease is usually lethal if left untreated.

History of World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day was founded by the 60th session of the World Health Assembly in May 2007, which is a regulatory body of the World Health Organization, constituting of 194 member states.

‘On this World Malaria Day 2019, WHO�s �Zero malaria starts with me� campaign aims to keep malaria high on the political agenda, gather additional resources, and empower communities to take extra efforts to prevent and control this deadly mosquito-borne disease.’

World Malaria Day was established to provide knowledge and information about the causes and spread of Malaria, as well as to provide technical and financial assistance to anti-malaria campaigns across the globe.

Facts and Statistics on Malaria

• The global tally of new malaria cases every year exceeds 216 million
• WHO report 2018 reveals that more than half the world's population are at risk of acquiring malaria, with over 400,000 deaths in 2017
• More than 430,000 people die from malaria each year; often young kids under five years of age
• Malaria kills a child every two minutes
• WHO African Region carries a disproportionately high percentage of the global malaria burden
• India has the highest number of malaria cases after Africa

How Can We Raise Awareness About Malaria?

There are several World Malaria Day activities to contribute to the global efforts towards malaria eradication. Following some of the significant and effective events listed below could help your village, city or community, free from malaria.

• Urge your family, friends, and neighbors who live in the mosquito-infested area to use mosquito nets
• Volunteer for any global awareness campaign along with any hospital or non-government organization (NGO) for eliminating malaria by handing out leaflets or educational material at public events
• Interact with the local public representatives and administrative officials, to assure that the war against malaria remains high on the government's agenda
• Make a personal donation or have your friends sponsor you in a personal challenge
• Join and promote various malaria campaigns on social media accounts - Pledge for your support in eradicating malaria by joining hashtag campaigns such as #worldmalariaday, #endmalaria, etc

Tips to Prevent Malaria

1. Use Mosquito Nets:

Keep your family safe from mosquitoes by using mosquito nets over your bed, as it not only ensures 100 percent protection, but also is a chemical-free way to keep mosquitoes at bay.

2. Close Your Shutters/ Windows after Sunset:

Mosquitoes enter your home mostly late in the evening. So, make sure your windows and doors are shut tightly after the sunset. You can also fit your windows with nets.

3. Wear Full Clothes:

Till the mosquito-based disease period is over, don't jump into the summer clothes and consider wearing light colored full sleeves clothes.

4. Keep Your Surroundings Clean:

Ensure your home is mopped daily and get rid of stagnant water pools at the earliest can help keep mosquitoes away.

5. Apply Malaria Repellents:

Mosquito repellents protect us from mosquito bites. So, you can use an insect repellent on your skin and clothes to repel mosquitoes.

Conclusion

Empower people across the world to make a personal commitment to save millions of lives, and help economies and communities to thrive by ending malaria. On this World Malaria Day, join the battle against this debilitating, but preventable disease.

References:

1. World Malaria Day 2019 - (https:www.who.int/campaigns/world-malaria-day/world-malaria-day-2019)
2. World Malaria Day - (https:endmalaria.org/events/world-malaria-day)
3. World Malaria Day 2019 | #ZeroMalariaStartsWithMe - (http://gbchealth.org/world-malaria-day-2019-zeromalariastartswithme/)

Source: Medindia

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