Watch: Can Asia Pacific Defeat Malaria?

Preventable infectious diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria account for one third of all under-five deaths. Globally, nearly half of all deaths among children under five are attributable to malnutrition (Caulfield 2004). In Asia Pacific, 351 million people are still undernourished, and the COVID-19 pandemic will only exacerbate this figure. UNICEF estimates an additional 6-7 million children under 5 globally will suffer from acute malnutrition as a result (UNICEF 2020).

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.

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.