WHO commends Sri Lanka

4 April 2014 04:15 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress in controlling malaria by bringing cases down from 203,000 in 2000 to zero locally acquired cases in November 2012, the World Health Organization said.

It also said that dengue has become the world’s fastest growing vector-borne disease, with a 30-fold increase in incidence over the past 50 years.

The organization is urging countries to prevent and control all vector-borne diseases such as chikungunya, dengue, kala-azar, lymphatic filariasis and malaria. These diseases account for 17 per cent of the estimated global burden of all infectious diseases.

The WHO made the appeal on the occasion of World Health Day, which falls on April 7.

“These are deadly but preventable diseases. The solution lies in a united and sustained effort from all of us. Ministries of health alone cannot control these

diseases,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia.

Forty per cent of the global population at risk of malaria lives in the WHO South-East Asia region, home to a quarter of the world’s population. Malaria is endemic in 10 of the 11 countries of the region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Dr Poonam said Maldives is the only country in the region that has remained free of malaria since 1984, but Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress in controlling it by bringing cases down from 203,000 in 2000 to zero locally acquired cases in November 2012.

She said the region recently eradicated polio, and “it is time for us to show the same resolve to defeat malaria, dengue and other vector-borne diseases.”

Lymphatic filariasis, another mosquito-borne disease, is linked to poverty and causes disfigurement and social stigma.

She said the region has 60 million infected people while 875 million are at risk of infection.

To stop its spread, WHO has recommended an annual mass drug administration of single doses of two medicines to all people in endemic areas.

“With mass drug administration, with effective coverage, there is no reason why diseases like lymphatic filariasis cannot be eliminated from the region,” said Dr Singh. (Source: Indian Express)

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Comments - 9

lkboy Friday, 04 April 2014 06:08 AM

at last, something good about us.

rosebud Friday, 04 April 2014 12:00 PM

Well done and thank you to all those involved in this magnificent effort. via DM Android App

Orissa man Friday, 04 April 2014 07:28 AM

Another zero casualty story. Can anyone believe this story

sanju Friday, 04 April 2014 09:21 AM

What are the figures for malaria after Nov 2012 till today ? Has there not been any cases since Nov 2012 ? Because i believe there have been many cases since.

Cohle _invador Friday, 04 April 2014 09:32 AM

Mr.Orissa _man ..Always skeptical TNA and LTTER rump has something to say

sss Friday, 04 April 2014 10:36 AM

but malnutrition, especially protein malnutrition? people in general are smaller than like several decades ago

Shane Friday, 04 April 2014 06:00 PM

Good Job.

Ranjan Saturday, 05 April 2014 05:27 AM

Fake achievement with fudged statistics as usual. Also it does not include whole country. via DM Android App

Suq Madique Saturday, 05 April 2014 02:12 AM

[quote name="Orissa man"]Another zero casualty story. Can anyone believe this story[/quote]
Either believe it or prove it to be otherwise.

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WHO commends Sri Lanka

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