- January 3, 2020
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Public Health, Reports
Leaving no one behind in the march to a malaria-free world
The scourge of malaria continues to strike hardest against pregnant women and children in Africa. The World malaria report 2019 includes a special section focused on the burden and consequences of the disease among these two most at-risk groups. It delivers a clear message: we must all do more to protect the most vulnerable in the fight against a disease that continues to claim more than 400 000 lives every year.
Malaria in pregnancy compromises the mother’s health and puts her at greater risk of death. It
impacts the health of the fetus, leading to prematurity and low birthweight, major contributors to neonatal and infant mortality. Last year, some 11 million pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa were infected with malaria and, consequently, nearly 900 000 children were born with a low birthweight.