India can be malaria free by 2030: Global advisory group

December 07, 2016 21:25

A global advisory group on malaria today said India has the highest malaria burden in the Asia Pacific region but claimed vigorous action and renewed efforts in all states can make India reach the historic goal of malaria-freedom by 2030.

"India's recent success in eliminating polio shows what can be done when political commitment is strong. With vigorous action in the low-burden states and renewed efforts in all states, India can reach the historic goal of malaria-freedom by 2030," said Sir Richard Feachem who directs the Global Health Group -- The Malaria Elimination Group -- at the University of California, San Francisco.

It said under-reporting of confirmed malaria cases in India makes it "challenging" to accurately estimate its true burden and asserted that actual number of cases could be between 9-50 times higher than what has been reported by the government's vector programme.

The group is meeting this week in Chennai to discuss strategies to shrink the global malaria map and take stock of India's efforts to eliminate the disease. Senior officials of the government, WHO, Ministries of Health of malaria-endemic countries in Asia and Africa and others will take part in it.

The group said that strong political and programmatic leadership, along with increased financial commitment and strengthened regional collaboration, are crucial to eliminating malaria in India by 2030.

With the support of many partners, India has experienced a remarkable decline in malaria cases, Feachem said. According to WHO, the country has nearly halved the number of reported malaria cases between 2000 and 2014, from 2 million to 1.1 million.

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