Directorate of Malaria Control (DoMC) Islamabad to commemorate World Malaria Day 2017 organized an Awareness Seminar at a hotel in Islamabad. The theme of this year World Malaria Day was “End Malaria for Good”. It was attended by Representative of World Health Organization, vertical programs managers, academic institutions and public and private sector organizations.
Speaking on the occasion, WHO Representative, Mohammad Assai Ardakani stressed the need of active engagement of private sectors in all health related activities adding that without engagement it is impossible to move forward because in country like Pakistan, 65% of people seek advice of private sectors.
According to WHO estimation, 1 child dies every 2 minute because of malaria. There is dire need of personnel commitment from the key providers, managers, policy makers, students, media, other sectors is required to move forward and end malaria in Pakistan. He suggested adopting district integrated approach for malaria control across the country.
Abdul Kahar Wadani, Member National Assembly in his address said that World Malaria Day aimed at raising awareness and working on the prevention of malaria. In many region of Pakistan, due to illiteracy rate there is lack of awareness. It is our responsibility to come forward in the fight against Malaria because saving one life is saving humanity.
Praising the efforts of DoMC and its team, he assured his full support to DoMC in the fight against Malaria.
Dr. Sabeen Afzal Deputy Director (P-I), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination said that the importance of celebrating malaria day is to look what is happening in the world and avail new opportunity and learn from their experiences. He thanked DoMC, Private Partners, WHO, Lead technical partner Global Fund in making best possible efforts for reducing incidence rate in high burden areas of Pakistan.
Dr. Baseer Khan Achakzai, National Program Manager, DoMC in his welcome address informed that according to the World Malaria Report 2016, with an estimated 1 million cases annually, Pakistan remains one of the highest malaria burden countries in WHO-Eastern Mediterranean Region alongwith Afghanistan and other sharing 95% of the total of regional burden.
During 2015, a total of 200,000 confirmed cases have been report from public and private sector in Pakistan. Most than 90% of the disease burden in the country is shared by sixty six high burden districts and agencies of Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and FATA. The aim of celebrating World Malaria Day is to encourage people to join the fight against Malaria.
Dr. Maham Talat, Project Director, Indus Hospital in her address briefed the participants about ‘Role of private sector in Malaria Control’.
Inaugural ceremony was followed by Speech competition in which Dr. Rabia Haider from Al Shifa School of Public Health, Ms. Fareeha Aslam from College of Medical Laboratory, Technology, M. Wajahat from College of Medical Laboratory Technology and Ms. Hareem Fatima from Federal Medical & Dental College spoke on importance of World Malaria Day.
