World Malaria Day today

Staff Correspondent: The World Malaria Day-2017 is being celebrated in the country as elsewhere in the world today (Tuesday) to boost global efforts for prevention of malaria.

National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and different local and international organisations have taken an elaborate programme to observe the day with the theme "End Malaria For Ever".

World Malaria Day was established in May 2007 by World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide "education and understanding of malaria" and spread information on "year-long intensified implementation of national malaria-control strategies, including community-based activities for malaria prevention and treatment in endemic areas.

In 2014, the number of malaria cases in the country was 57,480 while the figure of the disease stood at 39,719 in 2015 and 27,737 in 2016, said Dr MM Aktaruzzaman, programme manager of NMCP.

Thirteen districts -- Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Chittagong, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Habiganj, Netrokona, Myminsingh, Sherpur and Kurigram - are most malaria endemic districts in the country, he said. Among 13 districts, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban contribute 93 percent of total case burden of malaria disease, Dr Aktaruzzaman added.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease affecting humans and other animals caused by parasitic protozoans belonging to the Plasmodium type.

The disease (Malaria) causes symptoms that typically include fever, feeling tired, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma, or death symptoms usually begin 10-15 days after being bitten.





Risingbd/Dhaka/April 25, 2017/Mukul