New York, Beritasatu.com– Shortages of funds and disruption of drug supplies in sub-Saharan Africa as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic risk increasing the death toll to tens of thousands of people from malaria. This was revealed in a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its annual report on malaria, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes, Monday (30/11).
The UN Health Organization expressed concern that even minor disruption to access to care could pose a significant risk of loss of life.
The report said a 10% disruption to access to anti-malarial treatment in sub-Saharan Africa could result in an additional 19,000 deaths. That figure would increase to 46,000 deaths if there was a 25% disruption to access to treatment, and 100,000 deaths if there was a disruption of 50%.
“Efforts to progress have stopped. Covid-19 increasingly threatens our efforts to tackle malaria, especially treating those who suffer from the disease, ”said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
He explained that despite the adverse effects of Covid-19 on the African economy, international partners and African countries need to do more to ensure that resources are available to expand malaria management programs that make a big difference in people’s lives.
The latest WHO report on malaria says it can be prevented and treated. The disease mainly affects countries in Africa. The facts show, progress against malaria has now slowed down when the Covid-19 pandemic emerged earlier this year.
In 2019, there were 229 million cases of malaria worldwide. That annual figure has barely changed over the past four years. About 409,000 people died from the disease in 2019. The previous year, as many as 411,000 people died.
Source: Voice of Update
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