Islamabad (Web Desk): President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called upon all partners, organizations, healthcare professionals and individuals to unite in their efforts to end malaria.
In his message on the occasion of World Malaria Day, President Zardari asked all provincial governments and other stakeholders to take joint measures to control malaria disease.
The president underscored that prevention, diagnosis and treatment of malaria was possible.
“The Government of Pakistan is committed to providing all health facilities to the people”, he said adding that Pakistan was determined to implement new initiatives under the Global Malaria Programme.
President Zardari pointed out that the measures were aimed at testing, confirming and standardizing the treatment of every suspected case of malaria.
Expressing satisfaction over the Ministry of National Health’s concerted efforts to combat malaria through a joint unit, the president said the Common Management Unit Malaria adopted a comprehensive strategy.
“Unfortunately, due to the devastating floods in 2022, malaria cases had increased sharply in different parts of the country,” President Zardari said.
In his message on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized collaborative efforts to strengthen healthcare systems, increase access to quality diagnosis and treatment, and raise awareness about the importance of prevention and control measures of malaria.
“The common goal of a world free of malaria can be achieved through vigorous political commitment and adequate investment mix of strategies,” the premier said.
PM Shehbaz said that the research and academic institutions need to flag scientific advances to both experts and the general public, international partners, companies and foundations to showcase their efforts and reflect on how to further scale up malaria control interventions.
Shehbaz Sharif said the Ministry of National Health Services and Coordination through Common Management Unit Malaria, national and international partners, provincial counterparts, NGOs and private stakeholders has significantly enhanced the free malaria testing and treatment facilities in the malaria endemic districts across the country.
“Despite the country’s achievements in Malaria control, sustaining the gains still remains a challenge,” PM Shehbaz said, adding that everyone must have access to quality assured malaria testing and treatment facilities, free of cost, at their door steps.
The World Malaria Day is observed every year on April 25 to create awareness and find solutions to the challenges being faced in controlling the disease.