African countries have made huge progress in ensuring children and pregnant women are protected against malaria – but substantial gaps remain, according to the annual global report on the topic today.
There has been a steep increase in diagnostic testing of children and in preventative treatment for pregnant women, according to the World Malaria Report 2016.
There has also been rapid expansion of the use of insecticide treated nets, the report says.
The report also highlights progress to be made. The proportion of children with fever seeking health care given a malaria test increased to 51%. It had been 29% in 2010.
In 20 African countries, some 31% of women received preventative treatment compared with 6% in 2010.
Some 90% of malaria cases and 92% of deaths were in sub-Saharan African in 2015. Some 70% of malaria deaths involve children under the age of five.
The report shows that 53% of those at risk now use treated nets for sleeping – compared with 20% in 2010.
WHO malaria programme director Dr Pedro Alonso said: “We are definitely seeing progress.
“But the world is still struggling to achieve the high levels of programme coverage that are needed to beat this disease.”
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