Asia-Pacific Leaders Rally to Eradicate Malaria
(MENAFN) Urging a united front and immediate action, nations and territories across the Asia-Pacific convened at the 9th Asia Pacific Leaders’ Summit on Malaria Elimination this week, sounding the alarm on growing challenges to malaria eradication efforts. The two-day summit, hosted in Bali from Monday to Tuesday, highlighted the urgent need for cross-border collaboration in the face of mounting threats.
“Time is the most precious commodity we have. And in this time of extraordinary conflict, contraction, and chaos across the global health landscape, what we need most is cooperation and commitment,” emphasized Sarthak Das, CEO of the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance, on Tuesday.
The call comes as World Health Organization (WHO) data reveals over 260 million malaria cases globally, with more than 600,000 deaths reported—tragically, 75% of those lost are children under five.
Opening day discussions featured a technical session with global experts examining new research, breakthrough tools, and evolving strategies to combat malaria. The dialogue stressed the necessity of unified efforts, stretching across national borders and sectors, to achieve lasting elimination.
Peter Sands, executive director of The Global Fund, praised advancements in combating malaria, especially through emerging technologies and medical developments. However, he warned that progress is fragile.
“We are at a moment of reckoning, where we could either continue the superb progress we've seen over the last decade or two, or we could find ourselves going backwards,” he cautioned.
Sands also highlighted that countries now face a convergence of obstacles: climate instability, geopolitical conflicts, and economic strain—all compounded by a steep reduction in international financial support.
This year’s summit, themed “Unity in Action, Towards Zero Malaria,” welcomed roughly 250 delegates representing 23 nations, regions, and global institutions. Among the attendees were health ministers from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, Laos, and Pakistan—demonstrating high-level commitment to eradicating the disease from the region.
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