Malaria has affected the South-East Asia Region for millennia. The Region is estimated to have 1.6 billion population at risk. It is the second largest contributor to the global malaria burden and estimated cases were 11.3 million in 2017 (World Malaria Report 2018) . Malaria is endemic in nine out of 11 countries of the region, accounting for nearly 70% of the burden outside the WHO African Region. India and Indonesia accounted for 68% and 21% of the reported cases and 65% and 16% of malaria deaths, respectively. The Region continued to see its incidence rate fall, recording the largest decline globally, while all other WHO regions recorded either little progress or an increase in incidence rate.
Reported confirmed cases decreased by 75% from 2010 to 2017 and deaths decreased by 88% (World Malaria Report 2018). Despite being the highest burden country of the region, India showed a 23 % decline in reported cases within a year (2016 to 2017). Maldives and Sri Lanka, certified by WHO as malaria-free in November 2015 and September 2016 respectively, continued to be malaria-free. Among the countries identified by the WHO as having the potential to eliminate malaria by 2020, Bhutan and Timor-Leste continued to progress towards elimination and are likely to achieve their respective targets. Seven out of the nine countries are on target to achieve a more than 40% reduction in case incidence by 2020, and India and Indonesia are on track for a 20–40% reduction. As a result of the massive reduction in malaria burden in the Region, and inspired by the elimination successes of countries, all countries of the Region are aiming to eliminate malaria, paving way for a malaria-free South-East Asia Region latest by 2030.
There are many challenges like vector resistance and artemisinin resistance, diverse epidemiological context, hard to reach areas that need to be addressed in a time bound manner. Efforts for subnational elimination, case-based surveillance, engagement of private sector, cross border collaboration and advocacy for adequate and sustained domestic funding by countries need to be accorded high priority. It is time to embrace the challenges by putting the onus of malaria elimination to ourselves, to the communities that are most hard hit by malaria and to the countries whose political will would shape the future of malaria landscape in the time to come.
Global Situation
Estimated cases (2017): 219 million; Deaths: 435 000
GTS Targets
- Reduce mortality as compared to 2015 by 90%
- Reduce cases as compared to 2015 by 90%
- Eliminate malaria in at least 35 countries Prevent reestablishment
Regional situation
Estimated cases: 11.3 million; Deaths: 19700 (as per 2017 data)
Regional Targets:
- Elimination in 2 countries by 2020
- Elimination in 4 countries by 2023
- Reducing deaths by at least 50%