Opinion Pieces Discuss Global Action Needed To End Malaria

Miami Herald: Malaria has come roaring back in Venezuela, which puts the region, including South Florida, at risk
Former Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), Arthur H. Vandenberg distinguished fellow at the United Nations Foundation

“…Thanks to U.S. leadership, malaria no longer is a daily threat to Floridians. But that doesn’t mean the fight is over. … In fact, there’s been a recent spike in malaria cases in our region of the world. … Look at Venezuela. … Left unchecked, the threat from rising cases in Venezuela could reverse the progress experienced in the rest of the region. … Concerted efforts from the international community have eliminated malaria in many regions before, and we can do it again. Florida’s new congressional delegation must pledge to step up … Step up U.S. funding for bilateral and multilateral programs, as well as U.N. agencies, that are on the ground distributing bed nets, tracking the spread of the disease, and educating local communities on how to protect themselves from malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Step up our opposition to governments that prevent aid from reaching the most vulnerable populations facing malaria. And step up individual and political will to stop this preventable disease from taking more lives in the Americas and around the world. … [W]e have seen time and time again that investing in global health priorities yields immense returns and creates a more healthy and prosperous world. With a little investment we can stop the resurgence of malaria and stamp it out once and for all…” (1/3).

Project Syndicate: How to Stop Losing the Fight Against Malaria
Andrea Boggio, professor of legal studies at Bryant University, and Colin Ohrt, founding director of the Consortium for Health Action

“…After years of impressive gains, global efforts to combat the mosquito-borne illness have stalled. … More alarming, the death toll could climb far higher. Data from the Consortium for Health Action … shows a high risk of drug-resistant malaria spreading from Asia to sub-Saharan Africa, the world’s most malaria-affected region. … In 2015, the WHO set 2020 as a deadline for halting the transmission of plasmodium falciparum in Cambodia, and called for total elimination of malaria from Southeast Asia’s Greater Mekong Subregion by 2030. These ambitious targets are still achievable, but only if three key challenges are addressed. First, a coordinated strategy is needed to target the disease in areas where transmission rates are highest, the so-called malaria islands. … Second, the international donors must recognize the urgency of the looming malaria pandemic. … And, finally, we need new sources of money. … With the right level of support and coordination, we can eliminate multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria in Southeast Asia. The alternative — poor implementation, ineffective spending, and misdirected research — will mean that still-evolving malaria parasites will eventually reach Africa, a deadly scenario that would turn back the clock on decades of progress” (12/31).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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