Malaria elimination in the Asia-Pacific: the COVID-19 threat

Ahead of World Malaria Day, a new paper published by The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific highlights key lessons drawn from Bhutan and Timor-Leste’s sustained malaria elimination efforts since their re-commitment to the World Health Organizations (WHO) E-2025 initiative last year. It details the approaches adapted by both countries to maintain the spotlight on malaria whilst preventing large COVID-19 outbreaks, as well as policies adopted to eliminate malaria by 2025.

We see tangible evidence of robust collaboration across borders in Asia Pacific to address malaria and other public health challenges. In this spirit, APLMA-APMEN is co-hosting with the Royal Government of Bhutan the Asia Pacific Leaders Dialogue for Malaria Elimination.

APLMA is an affiliation of Asian and Pacific heads of government formed to accelerate progress against malaria and to eliminate it in the region by 2030.