As many as 3 billion people in endemic areas are at risk of malaria and ̴500 million clinical cases occur annually (Michael etal, 2011). Between 1 and 3 million annually, largely African infants and young children. Malaria, a protozoan infection transmitted by anopheles mosquitoes, is the most important parasitic disease of humans.
The year 2010 was the date set to achieve universal coverage for all populations at risk of malaria using locally appropriate interventions for prevention and case management, and to reduce the malaria burden by at least 50% compared to the levels in the year 2000 (WHO, 2011). In the light of progress made by 2010, the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) targets were updated in June 2011. The targets are now to reduce global malaria deaths to near zero by end-2015; reduce global malaria cases by 75% from 2000 levels by end-2015; and eliminate malaria by end-2015 in 10 new countries since 2008, including in the WHO European Region.
These targets will be met by: achieving and sustaining universal access to, and utilization of, preventive measures; achieving universal access to case management in the public and private Sectors and in the community (including appropriate referral); and accelerating the development of surveillance systems.
