World Malaria Day is being observed across the world including Pakistan today (25th April, Thursday) in order to raise awareness of malaria and generate support for the fight against this preventable and treatable disease.
The theme for World Malaria Day 2019 is 'Zero Malaria Starts with Me', and its aim is to empower individuals across the world to make a personal commitment to saving millions more lives, and help communities and economies to thrive by ending the fatal disease.
World Health Organization (WHO) actively plays a role in promoting and supporting World Malaria Day whereas theme for this year is ‘A Push for Prevention’.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. About half of the worlds’ population is at risk of malaria, particularly those in lower-income countries.
The World Health Assembly instituted World Malaria Day in May 2007. The purpose of the event is to give countries in affected regions the chance to learn from each other’s experiences and support one another’s efforts.
World Malaria Day also enables new donors to join in a global partnership against malaria, and for research and academic institutions to reveal scientific advances to the public. The day also gives international partners, companies and foundations a chance to showcase their efforts and reflect on how to scale up what has worked.