World Marks Malaria Day Monday

Today is the World Malaria day- a day set aside to commemorate global efforts to control malaria. The theme of the fourth World Malaria Day - Achieving Progress and Impact - heralds the international community's renewed efforts make progress towards zero malaria deaths by 2015.

Reducing the impact of malaria is key to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, agreed by every United Nations Member State. Rwanda is noted as among the top countries in Africa, that is making big strides in eliminating the spread of malaria. Statistics from the health information system of 2010, deaths caused by malaria dropped by 5.2 to 7.8% compared to 2009s which recorded 13% of malaria caused deaths. In 2010 alone, Rwanda recorded a total of 600 malaria caused deaths, and these were only the reported ones. 

Though a big number compared to the tiny Rwandan population, Akpaka Kalu of the World Health Organization lauds the fact that the Rwandan government is taking stringent measures in completely eliminating malaria. However Akpaka noted the challenges that are still being faced.

Kalu Akpaka of the World Health Organization in Kenya, is also the leader of a team of external experts who were in the country in March to review Rwanda’s malaria control program, which is part of the pre-elimination exercise against Malaria in Rwanda. Rwanda was found to be in the fourth phase of the pre-elimination exercise.