- विज्ञापन -
Against a backdrop of mounting global health crises and shrinking international funding, leaders from across the Asia-Pacific came together in Bali this week to call for renewed urgency and cross-border solidarity in the battle against malaria, one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases. The two-day 9th Asia Pacific Leaders’ Summit on Malaria Elimination, held in Indonesia’s popular island province, brought together around 250 participants, i n c l u d i n g s e n i o r government officials, health ministers, researchers, and representatives from international organisations. The summit’s message was clear: the fight against malaria must not be allowed to stall.
“Time is the most precious commodity we have,” said Sarthak Das, CEO of the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA), in his opening address on Tuesday. “In this time of extraordinary conflict, contraction, and chaos across the global health landscape, what we need most is cooperation and commitment.”
The summit, held under the theme “Unity in Action, Towards Zero Malaria”, focused on accelerating efforts to eliminate malaria from the region — a target that is becoming increasingly difficult due to climate pressures, funding cuts, and shifting political priorities. The World Health Organsiation ( W H O ) reports that malaria continues to affect millions globally, with over 260 million case and more than 600,000 deaths annually. A staggering three-quarters of those deaths are children under the age of five, underscoring the deadly toll the disease takes on the most vulnerable.
In the Asia-Pacific region, progress toward elimination has been uneven. While some countries are close to stamping out the disease, others, particularly in remote and tropical areas, still face high transmission rates and limited access to healthcare. The summit drew health ministers from countries including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, Laos, Pakistan, and host nation Indonesia — many of which remain malaria-endemic. Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, spoke candidly about the turning point the world finds itself in. “We are at a moment of reckoning, where we could either continue the superb progress we’ve seen over the last decade or two, or we could find ourselves going backwards,” he said.
A technical session held on the first day explored the latest innovations in malaria control, including promising diagnostic tools and targeted prevention strategies. The discussions also highlighted the growing threat of drug resistant strains of malaria and the urgent need for sustainable investment in research and health system strengthening. Beyond science and strategy, a recurring theme throughout the summit was the need for unity — across borders, sectors, and communities. Speakers stressed that regional cooperation is essential in the face of shared threats, particularly as climate change is predicted to expand the reach of malaria into new geographies.
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, remains preventable and treatable. But the danger of complacency looms large. If left untreated, the disease — especially P. falciparum malaria — can become life-threatening within 24 hours. I n B a l i , h o w e ve r, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that such outcomes become a thing of the past. Their call to action: unity, urgency, and unwavering political will.
