World Malaria Day 2024: Date, theme, history and significance

World Malaria Day occurs annually on April 25th, serving as a global initiative to promote awareness and action against malaria. The occasion raises awareness about the global effort to control and ultimately eradicate malaria. It was celebrated for the first time in various countries of the African continent.

Theme of World Malaria Day 2024:

• This year the theme of World Malaria Day 2024 is “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world”.
• According to WHO, the theme of World Malaria Day 2023 is ‘Time to reach zero malaria: investment, innovation, implementation’.
• The theme of World Malaria Day 2022 is ‘Use innovation to reduce the burden of malaria disease and save lives’.

History of World Malaria Day:

• World Malaria Day evolved from ‘Africa Malaria Day’. ‘Africa Malaria Day’ has been celebrated by African countries since 2001. Its objective was to control malaria and reduce its mortality rate in African countries.
• In 2008, Africa Malaria Day was changed to World Malaria Day at the 60th session of the World Health Assembly, sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO). They decided that the world needs to be more aware and vigilant about measures to prevent malaria and mosquito bites. Therefore, this day makes it a recurring event that takes place each year.

Importance of World Malaria Day:

• WHO joins the RBM Partnership to promote “Zero Malaria Starts with Me” for malaria elimination. This is a grassroots level campaign related to malaria eradication. Its purpose is:
  • Putting malaria high on the political agenda
  • Collecting extra resources
  • Malaria prevention for communities
  • Empowering to take ownership of care
• According to WHO, between 2000 and 2014, the number of malaria-related deaths worldwide declined by 40%. According to WHO's World Malaria Report 2019, there were no global gains in reducing new infections during this period.
• Almost the same number of people died from malaria in 2014-2018 and 2018 compared to the previous year.

Important facts about malaria:

• Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasite. This parasite can be spread to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called 'malaria vectors'. When a mosquito carrying the malaria parasite bites a human, it injects the parasite into the bloodstream along with its saliva.
• There are different types of Plasmodium parasites, but only five types of Plasmodium cause malaria in humans. they are:
  • Plasmodium Falciparum
  • Plasmodium Vivax
  • P. Ovale
  • Plasmodium Malaria
  • Plasmodium Knowlesi
• Plasmodium falciparum is indeed the most deadly species of malaria parasite and is responsible for the majority of malaria-related deaths worldwide.
• Plasmodium vivax is the second most important species and is prevalent in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
• P. vivax and Plasmodium ovale together cause a complication of latent liver disease and can be cured.
• Malaria is an acute febrile disease. Its symptoms usually appear 10-15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Its symptoms in the initial stage are fever, headache and chills.
• Vector control prevents malaria transmission.