Context: Every year 25th April is observed as World Malaria Day to spread awareness of the global effort to control and ultimately eradicate malaria.

• The theme of World Malaria Day 2022 is “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives”. 

About Malaria

• It is a life-threatening mosquito borne blood disease caused by plasmodium parasites. It is predominantly found in the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America as well as Asia.
• The parasites spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• After entering the human body, parasites initially multiply within the liver cells and then attack the Red Blood Cells (RBCs) resulting in their rupture.
• There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the greatest threat.
• Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness.
• It is preventable as well as curable.

Malaria Vaccine

• Known by its lab initials as RTS, S but branded as Mosquirix, the vaccine has passed lengthy scientific trials that found it to be safe and reducing the risk of malaria by nearly 40%, the best recorded.
• It was developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) company and approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2015.
• The RTS, S vaccine trains the immune system to attack the malaria parasite (Plasmodium (P.) falciparum, the deadliest species of the malaria parasite).

Reduction in Malaria cases

• There has been a decline of 86.45% malaria cases in the country. Further, a 79.16% reduction in malaria-related deaths was registered in 2021 as compared to 2015. 
• India has made remarkable progress in reducing the malaria incidence and deaths.
• Moreover, 124 districts in the country have reported zero malaria cases. This gives a major impetus to India’s goal of malaria elimination. 
• For the prioritization of malaria elimination through national and sub-national efforts in achieving the goal. 
• The need is to emphasize progressive strengthening of health care delivery system and improve multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration.

Leveraging technology & innovation

• Leveraging technology and innovation will help in developing tailor-made solutions to advance India’s malaria elimination plan and contribute to improved health, quality of life, and alleviation of poverty. 
• “As we move ahead with innovative technology use, India’s “e-sanjeevani” has shown the pathway for teleconsultation and tele-referencing which are being widely used at the round levels for diagnosis and treatment of various healthcare problems including malaria