Malaria Conference to eliminate major killer disease in South Sudan kicks off

The National Malaria Conference organized by the ministry of health commenced on Tuesday in Juba with the target of eliminating the major killer disease in the country by 2025.

The three -days conference will discuss the challenges and way forward on how to achieve Zero -Malaria.

Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, said that malaria remains a very significant public concern in the development challenges not only in South Sudan but the entire African continent and globally.

Ndenzako while citing the World Malaria Report 2021, said that an estimated 20 people die of malaria daily and about 10,000 people get malaria daily in South Sudan.

He said that children and women are the most affected group by malaria.

The WHO chief said that Malaria is the leading cause of poverty due to the fact that treatment of disease takes away a huge chunk of household incomes in the country.

He disclosed that this conference is a major milestone for fighting malaria, and urged the outcome of the conference to be implemented.

Yolanda Awel Deng, the National Minister of Health, said Malaria is a disease that is treatable and preventable yet many people especially children below 5 years die of it.

She said out of 10, three are malaria admission, adding that this shows that the country has long way to go to achieve malaria reduction.

She said that the ministry is working hard to control malaria through distributing free mosquito nets and providing preventive drugs to women in the hospitals.

Awel urged development partners to deliver services to those affected by heavy flooding since last year.

She said that the fight against malaria is the collective work of everybody, not only the ministry of health.

Malaria is the leading  cause of morbidity and mortality contributing to 66.8 percent of out-patient consultations and 30 percent of admissions.