As the world commemorates World Malaria Day today, the National Ministry of Health is calling for more preventive measures to fight the disease.
Malaria is a major public health concern, accounting for about 41% of all visits to health facilities in South Sudan.
Ismail Abdu Nimaya, the Zonal Coordinator for Malaria Control Program in Juba says early diagnosis will go a long way in reducing prevalence rates.
“The strategy should involve early diagnosis and effective treatment, but primarily preventive measures by protecting oneself from mosquitoes,” Nimaya urges.
The Ministry of health advises control of malaria in pregnancy by sleeping under mosquito nets and destroying breeding grounds for malaria carrying mosquitoes.
This year’s global theme for World Malaria Day is “End Malaria For Good, “while National the national theme is “Doubling Efforts to Prevent, Diagnose and Treat Malaria.”
Main celebrations are taking place in Namurunyang, Kapoeta town.
Meanwhile, Europe has been declared completely free of malaria. According to the World Health Organization, the number of malaria cases in Europe dropped from almost 91,000 in 1995 to zero last year.
Dr Nedret Emiroglu of the World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that the continent will remain vulnerable until the disease is beaten globally.
“There’s always a risk of importation, which we have experienced in the past, resurgence happened and we don’t want this to happen,” she cautions.
The WHO urges vigilance with continued interventions for vector control.
The global malaria mortality rate was reduced by 60% in in the past 15 years, and an estimated 6.2 million lives were saved as a result of a scale-up of malaria interventions.
US$ 5.1 billion is needed every year, double the funding available