Can Test, Treat, Track Beat Malaria?

Malaria has long been a major public health concern in the Asia Pacific region, particularly in South East Asia (SEA) affecting millions of people.

- Ayesha Siddiqui

While Asia Pacific has been very successful in drastically reducing the malaria burden, over the past 10 years only three countries in the region successfully earned their malaria-free status: Maldives in 2015, Sri Lanka in 2016, and China in 2021. China's eradication of malaria in particular was a momentous feat, making it a potential blueprint for other countries in the region. Let's examine the lessons we can learn from China's malaria elimination strategy.

Malaria, the oldest disease that has plagued mankind for centuries, continues to wreak havoc globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO's) 2023 World Malaria Report revealed that global malaria cases in 2022 surpassed pre-COVID-19 levels. The Asia Pacific region also continues to be affected by this enduring fever. India accounted for 66 per cent of malaria cases in the WHO South-East Asia Region in 2022, with nine countries in the region contributing to about 2 per cent of the global burden. Notably, Myanmar experienced a seven-fold increase in cases between 2019 and 2022 due to political and social instability, impacting neighbouring countries like Thailand, where cases doubled. Bangladesh and Indonesia also saw increases in malaria cases between 2021 and 2022.

Understanding China's Approach

The WHO certified China as malaria-free in 2021, marking a significant achievement. Malaria had been endemic in China for many years, with an estimated 30 million cases annually and a 1 per cent fatality rate in 1949. The elimination of malaria in this populous nation represents a major milestone not only for Chinese public health but also for global efforts towards malaria eradication.