SEA/RC60/R6
REVISED MALARIA CONTROL STRATEGY: FOCUSING ON A NEW PARADIGM
The Regional Committee, Recalling World Health Assembly resolution WHA60.18 on Malaria as well as United Nations General Assembly Resolution 59/256 entitled “2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, particularly in Africa”, Concerned about the large burden of malaria and its unacceptable toll on health and development and with the emergence of drug resistance in Asia, Aware that malaria particularly affects the poor and “hard-to-reach” populations living in remote, hilly areas, Understanding that ecological, environmental and behavioral determinants lead to frequent malaria epidemics, Calling attention to the fact that the disease is both treatable and preventable, and that newer technologies such as long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) are available, Realizing that malaria is not only a public health problem but the disease is related to socioeconomic development, Supporting the Regional Director’s concept of implementing malaria control as a part of healthy public policies, through a strong multisectoral approach, Recognizing the Regional Director’s initiative and the efforts made by WHO, malaria programme managers and development partners in revising the proposed malaria control strategy for the SEA Region for 2006-2010, to fit with socioeconomic conditions and the needs of SEA countries, Appreciating recommendations made by the Twenty-fourth Meeting of Health Ministers which endorsed the Revised Malaria Control Strategy for the South-East Asia Region, and Having considered the report and recommendations of the Twenty-fourth Meeting of Ministers of Health of Countries of the South-East Asia Region and the Joint Meeting of Health Secretaries of Countries of WHO South-East Asia Region (HSM) and Consultative
-2Committee for Programme Development and Management (CCPDM) held during 2-6 July 2007, 1. ENDORSES the Revised Malaria Control Strategy for the South-East Asia Region 20062010; 2. URGES Member States: (a) to revise national strategies based on the Revised Malaria Control Strategy; (b) to adapt, as relevant, key elements of the Revised Malaria Control Strategy for SEAR for application at national level; (c) to build up capacity and strengthen infrastructure; (d) to adopt a broad multisectoral approach for malaria and mosquito control; (e) to mobilize sufficient resource for malaria control; (f) to articulate and advocate for “malaria control in Asia” in national and international forums; or when
(g) to allocate appropriate financial support for malaria control, and (h) to consider observing “malaria day” on 25 April or “malaria week”, appropriate, and 3. REQUESTS the Regional Director: (a) to provide technical support to Member States to strengthen malaria control in the Region; (b) to facilitate mobilization of financial resources for malaria control, and (c) to coordinate and assist Member States in the observance of World Malaria Day/s on 25 April of each year, or when appropriate, to raise public awareness of malaria in the Region as a major public health problem and for countries to assess progress in malaria control throughout the Region.