Elimination of malaria from Sri Lanka is an immense achievement: President

Saturday, 26 April 2014 01:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said the elimination of malaria from Sri Lanka is an immense achievement, considering the colossal cost and losses caused by it to the country and the people. He emphasised the need to maintain utmost vigilance to keep Sri Lanka free of all forms of this disease. Over the years when malaria was widespread it cost us innumerable lives, aggravated poverty, and weakened our human resources, causing considerable harm to the economy and gravely affected the education of many children, the President said in his message to mark World Malaria Day. The current success in eradicating this disease is clearly attributed to the sound policies and commitment of successive governments that sustained and expanded the health services, giving necessary priority to the anti-malaria campaign, the President stated. Following is the full text of the President’s message to mark World Malaria Day: On this World Malaria Day, I send this message with great pride as it is an occasion to celebrate the total eradication of indigenous malaria from Sri Lanka. It is noteworthy that the incidence of this disease was reduced to zero in October 2012 from a figure of 400,000 cases two decade ago, and a matter for great satisfaction that the country has been free of locally acquired malaria since then. The elimination of indigenous malaria from our country is an immense achievement considering the colossal cost and losses caused by it to the country and our people. Over the years when malaria was widespread it cost us innumerable lives, aggravated poverty, and weakened our human resources, causing considerable harm to the economy and gravely affected the education of many children. The current success in eradicating this disease is clearly attributed to the sound policies and commitment of successive governments that sustained and expanded the health services, giving necessary priority to the anti-malaria campaign. This was done with relevant research programs, good preventive and curative sectors, and dedicated healthcare staff who worked tirelessly in even the most remote areas. The support and cooperation given by the World Health Organisation and other relevant institutions to this endeavour is highly appreciated. This is also an occasion to pay our tribute to the patriots in the pre-independence era who campaigned selflessly to assist malaria victims under very harsh conditions, and also began building public awareness of the dangers of this disease. On this important occasion I would emphasise the need to maintain utmost vigilance to keep Sri Lanka free of all forms of this disease. I congratulate all those who contributed to the successful eradication of indigenous malaria in the country today. The anti-malaria campaign is assured of the fullest support of the Government for its programs to keep the nation free of malaria.

Thailand researchers discover new anti-malaria drug

Reuters: Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency in a press conference early this week announced its discovery of the P218 chemical, a new anti-malaria drug that is expected to go through pre-clinical trials before being manufactured. The Thai researchers discovered the protein target responsible for the growth of the parasite’s DNA. By preventing growth of the protein target, the new anti-malarial P218 chemical aims stop the DNA of malaria parasites from replicating. The compound can also completely kill malaria parasites. The chemical could replace pyrimethamine, the most commonly used antimalarial medication. The pre-clinical trial is expected to take a year and a half to complete and the human trials will last three years. Sumalee Kamchonwongpaisan, chief of the research and development team, expressed confidence in the next step of pre-clinical trials as local laboratory tests show no toxicity. If successful, it would take more than five years before the drug becomes publicly available.