MALARIA NO MORE
HONOURING OUR COMMITMENTS: WHY HALVING MALARIA ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH IS VITAL TO A HEALTHY FUTURE FOR ALL Role of Parliamentarians in overcoming one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases. Over the last twelve months, Commonwealth countries have been consumed by the threat of COVID-19 to our lives and livelihoods. This global pandemic has exposed how fragile our collective health security is, and the importance of unified action to restore it. As the pandemic continues, there is a risk that malaria is forgotten despite its effects on large populations in the Commonwealth countries. To underline our commitment to strengthen health security, it more urgent than ever to defeat this preventable disease. Doing so will not only save lives, it will also free vital resources to help us better prepare to handle other pandemics. As two Parliamentarians passionate about the cause of ending malaria, we invite you to consider the continuing fight against this disease and how Members of Parliament can play a role in 2021. Deadly, preventable and of concern for all Malaria is one of humanity’s oldest foes. The World Health Organisation estimated that more than 228 million cases were experienced in 2019, resulting in over 409,000 fatalities. Tragically, most of them were children under five. The cost is immense in lives lost, family wages spent on treatment, days of education missed and workforce productivity drained.
Hon. Pauline Latham, OBE, MP has represented
The disease thrives where there are gaps in basic health services, and the resulting fever cases mask outbreaks of other illnesses presenting with similar signs and symptoms, as well as putting a huge strain on underfunded health systems. It has been estimated that as many as 40% of fever cases go undiagnosed each year and many will be mistaken for malaria. With nearly half of Commonwealth countries still malaria endemic, our collective health security is at risk when new disease outbreaks can hide in plain sight. Whilst there is no ‘silver bullet’ to eradicate malaria, we do have the tools at our disposal to suppress, control and ultimately eliminate it, country by country. Just look at the humble insecticide treated nets developed in recent years. Costing only a few dollars, they are responsible for the majority of malaria cases averted. Increased availability of affordable anti-malaria treatments has also contributed to the reduction of malaria cases. When we acknowledge how much we can achieve with so little investment, we must recognise that malaria is a deeply preventable illness. The Commonwealth suffers a huge burden from malaria. Nine out of every ten Commonwealth citizens live in countries where they are at risk of malarial illness. And the burden is disproportionate. The Commonwealth suffers over half of all the
Dr Hon. Otiende Omollo, SC is a Member of Parliament
the constituency of Mid for Rarieda Constituency Derbyshire in the UK which is a malaria endemic since 2010. She is keenly area of Kenya. He suffered interested in international and overcame the debilitating development and health, effects of malaria in childhood. and is a member of the UK A lawyer by training, he builds Parliament’s International Development Committee modest houses for widows and orphans in Rarieda each and Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group weekend with Parliamentary earnings. He was first elected on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. to the Kenya National Assembly in 2017.
58 | The Parliamentarian | 2021: Issue One | 100 years of publishing
