Today we celebrate World Malaria Day under the motto “Zero malaria starts with me”. In the run-up to this year’s World Malaria Day, countries all around the world are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the cases of the novel coronavirus in the countries affected by malaria currently only represent a small fraction of the overall total, the situation is quickly evolving.

The leadership of the UNDP Office in Guinea-Bissau, through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and its partnership with the Ministry of Health, National Programme of Malaria Control, CCM, CECOME, Bandim em 2019, was fundamental for the notable progress made in the fight against Malaria in the country, among which we can highlight:

Ø About 100.000 insecticidal mosquito nets (MILDA) were distributed to children <1 year and pregnant women;

Ø About 30.000 pregnant women all around the country received medication to prevent malaria during pregnancy;

Ø About 90.000 children, almost 95% of all children under 5 years of age in the two regions where malaria transmission rates run high (Bafatá & Gabu) received at least 3 doses of anti-malaria drugs during the rainy season, which resulted in a massive reduction of malaria cases and deaths;

Ø About half a million people (25% of the overall population) were tested on malaria (men and women, children and adults, in public health units, at a communitary level and in private clinics);

Ø More than 150.000 people (about 7% of the overall population, men and women, children and adults, in public health units, at a communitary level and in private clinics) received Malaria treatment.

The WHO underscores the critical importance of keeping up efforts to prevent, detect and treat malaria, using best practices to protect healthcare professionals and communities of COVID-19 infection.

In 2020, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNDP pursues its work towards malaria control and elimination:

In the second half of May, we plan to hand out >1,3 million mosquito nets to rural families, in a proportion of 1 net/2 people;

We plan to expand the coverage of malaria prevention medication for children under 5 years in 2 additional regions: Quinara and Tombali;

We take up the construction of a new and modern medical warehouse for the Ministry of Health with a local construction company (JOMO).

Find the main results of UNDP Guinea-Bissau in the fight against malaria in 2019 here.