World Malaria Report 2024 + UPSC?.ToString()?? UPSC?.ToString()+" Current Affairs";

Why in the news?
INDIA HAS finally managed to control malaria, reduce mortality and get out of the High-Burden-High-Impact(HBHI) group of endemic countries, according to the World Malaria Report 2024 released on 11th December 2024.
India reported significant reduction in malaria caseload:
India reduced its malaria caseload by 69% from 6.4 million in 2017 to 2 million in 2023, and during the same period, the estimated malaria deaths fell 69% from 11,100 to 3,500.
“In the period 2022-2023, four countries achieved reductions in their malaria caseload — Bangladesh (-9.2%), India (-9.6%), Indonesia (-5.7%) and Nepal (-58.3%). Meanwhile, three countries saw case increases — Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (+47.9%), Thailand (+46.4%) and Myanmar (45.1%). In 2023, both Timor-Leste and Bhutan reported zero indigenous cases of malaria. With the exception of Myanmar and Thailand, all countries reported either a decline in their malaria mortality rate or zero malaria deaths.
A reduction in case incidence of 87% was achieved between 2000 and 2023, from 17.7 to 2.3 per 1000 population at risk.
What worked for India?
According to Dr Rajni Kant Srivastava, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Chair for Disease Elimination, this was
possible due to the Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN). The artemisinin first kills the majority of malaria parasites by attacking a certain protein, and the partner drug clears the small number of parasites that remain.
When mosquitoes try to bite a person sleeping under a LLIN, they are not only blocked by the net but also killed by the insecticide coating. According to the CDC, if more than half of a community uses an insecticide treated net, the number of mosquitoes in the area and their lifespan will be reduced. Effective monitoring and evaluation helped in case management.
Global Malaria Overview:
Meanwhile, new data from the WHO revealed that an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria and 12.7 million deaths have been averted since 2000, but the disease remains a serious global health threat, particularly in the WHO African Region.
According to WHO’s latest World malaria report, there were an estimated 263 million cases and 597,000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2023. This represents about 11 million more cases in 2023 compared to 2022, and nearly the same number of deaths. Approximately 95% of the deaths occurred in the WHO African Region, where many at risk still lack access to the services they need to prevent, detect and treat the disease.
44 countries and one territory declared malaria-free:
As of November 2024, 44 countries and one territory had been certified malaria-free by WHO, and many more are steadily progressing towards the goal. Of the 83 malaria-endemic countries, 25 countries now report fewer than 10 cases of malaria a year, an increase from 4 countries in 2000.
WHO malaria elimination target:
The global target for malaria eradication is to reduce global malaria incidence and mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal to eliminate malaria in at least 30 countries by 2030.
India has also set a target to eliminate malaria by 2030: 
The National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030 document was launched in 2016 
The goal is to eliminate malaria throughout the entire country and maintain malaria free status in areas where transmission has been interrupted .
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito borne blood disease caused by plasmodium parasites.
There are 5 Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – P. falciparum and P. vivax – pose the greatest threat.
Malaria is predominantly found in the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America as well as Asia.
Malaria is spread by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
The mosquito becomes infected after biting an infected person. The malaria parasites then enter the bloodstream of the next person the mosquito bites. The parasites travel to the liver, mature, and then infect red blood cells.
Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Notably, malaria is both preventable and curable.
What are the Initiatives Related to Malaria?
Global:
WHO's Global Malaria Program(GMP):
The WHO's GMP is responsible for coordinating WHO's global efforts to control and eliminate malaria.
Its work is guided by the "Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030" adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015 and updated in 2021.
The strategy sets the target of reducing global malaria incidence and mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030.
Malaria Elimination Initiative:
Spearheaded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this initiative focuses on eradicating malaria through diverse strategies such as treatment accessibility, mosquito population reduction, and technology development.
E-2025 Initiative:
The WHO launched the E-2025 initiative in 2021. The initiative aims to stop the transmission of malaria in 25 countries by 2025.
The WHO has identified 25 countries that have the potential to eradicate malaria by 2025.
India:
National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016-2030:
Aligned with WHO's strategy, aims to eliminate malaria across India by 2030 and maintain malaria-free zones.
National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme:
Addresses various vector-borne diseases, including malaria, through prevention and control measures.
National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP):
To combat devastating effects of Malaria, the NMCP was launched in 1953 built around three key activities - insecticidal residual spray (IRS) with DDT; monitoring and surveillance of cases; and treatment of patients.
High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) Initiative:
Initiated in four states (West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh) in 2019, focusing on malaria reduction through insecticidal net distribution.
Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India):
Established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), collaborates with partners on malaria control research.

Useful information for all competitive exams:
World Health Organization (WHO):
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for global public health.
Formation: 7 April 1948
Type: United Nations specialized agency
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland (Tedros was born in Asmara, Ethiopia (now in Eritrea)
Director-General(8th): Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council