Should there be a World Health Assembly resolution for malaria eradication? Opinion against

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Author: T. Jacob John
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2928-2; https://doaj.org/article/c58ae54b44744543a5a83a6d53e8b00e

Abstract A resolution for eradicating malaria, if passed by the World Health Assembly (WHA), will have a distracting effect on all countries with malaria. The continued prevalence of malaria is indicative of weak public health infrastructure. True, smallpox was eradicated by international efforts following WHA resolution: the success factor was primary prevention using a safe and effective vaccine. A resolution to eradicate polio was passed in 1988, with a target year of 2000, but even in 2019 success is not within reach. Public health experts are hesitant to move forward with measles eradication before polio is eradicated. Country by country elimination of malaria is a better way, ensuring the strengthening of public health infrastructure, with many other health benefits.