WHO | Malaria control improves for vulnerable in Africa, but global progress off-track

GENEVA - WHO’s World Malaria Report 2016 reveals that children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa have greater access to effective malaria control. Across the region, a steep increase in diagnostic testing for children and preventive treatment for pregnant women has been reported over the last 5 years. Among all populations at risk of malaria, the use of insecticide-treated nets has expanded rapidly.

But in many countries in the region, substantial gaps in programme coverage remain. Funding shortfalls and fragile health systems are undermining overall progress, jeopardizing the attainment of global targets.

Scale-up in malaria control

Sub-Saharan Africa carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2015, the region was home to 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths. Children under five years of age are particularly vulnerable, accounting for an estimated 70% of all malaria deaths.

Diagnostic testing enables health providers to rapidly detect malaria and prescribe life-saving treatment. New findings presented in the report show that, in 2015, approximately half (51%) of children with a fever seeking care at a public health facility in 22 African countries received a diagnostic test for malaria, compared to 29% in 2010.

To protect women in areas of moderate and high malaria transmission in Africa, WHO recommends "intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy" (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. The treatment, administered at each scheduled antenatal care visit after the first trimester, can prevent maternal and infant mortality, anaemia, and the other adverse effects of malaria in pregnancy.

According to available data, there was a five-fold increase in the percentage of women receiving the recommended 3 or more doses of this preventive treatment in 20 African countries. Coverage reached 31% in 2015, up from 6% in 2010.

Insecticide-treated nets are the cornerstone of malaria prevention efforts in Africa. The report found that more than half (53%) of the population at risk in sub-Saharan Africa slept under a treated net in 2015, compared to 30% in 2010.

Last month, WHO released the findings of a major 5-year evaluation in 5 countries. The study showed that people who slept under long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) had significantly lower rates of malaria infection than those who did not use a net, even though mosquitoes showed resistance to pyrethroids (the only insecticide class used in LLINs) in all of these areas.

An unfinished agenda

Malaria remains an acute public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the report, there were 212 million new cases of malaria and 429 000 deaths worldwide in 2015.

There are still substantial gaps in the coverage of core malaria control tools. In 2015, an estimated 43% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa was not protected by treated nets or indoor spraying with insecticides, the primary methods of malaria vector control.

In many countries, health systems are under-resourced and poorly accessible to those most at risk of malaria. In 2015, a large proportion (36%) of children with a fever were not taken to a health facility for care in 23 African countries.

"We are definitely seeing progress," notes Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme. "But the world is still struggling to achieve the high levels of programme coverage that are needed to beat this disease."

Global targets

At the 2015 World Health Assembly, Member States adopted the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030. The Strategy set ambitious targets for 2030 with milestones every 5 years to track progress.

Eliminating malaria in at least 10 countries is a milestone for 2020. The report shows that prospects for reaching this target are bright: In 2015, 10 countries and territories reported fewer than 150 indigenous cases of malaria, and a further 9 countries reported between 150 and 1000 cases.

Countries that have achieved at least 3 consecutive years of zero indigenous cases of malaria are eligible to apply for the WHO certification of malaria elimination. In recent months, the WHO Director-General certified that Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka had eliminated malaria.

But progress towards other key targets must be accelerated. The Strategy calls for a 40% reduction in malaria case incidence by the year 2020, compared to a 2015 baseline. According to the report, less than half (40) of the 91 countries and territories with malaria are on track to achieve this milestone. Progress has been particularly slow in countries with a high malaria burden.

An urgent need for more funding

Sustained and sufficient funding for malaria control is a serious challenge. Despite a steep increase in global investment for malaria between 2000 and 2010, funding has since flat-lined. In 2015, malaria funding totalled US$ 2.9 billion, representing only 45% of the funding milestone for 2020 (US$ 6.4 billion).

Governments of malaria-endemic countries provided about 31% of total malaria funding in 2015. The United States of America is the largest international malaria funder, accounting for about 35% of total funding in 2015, followed by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (16%).

If global targets are to be met, funding from both domestic and international sources must increase substantially.

Note to editors

RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine
Last month, WHO announced that the world’s first malaria vaccine would be rolled out through pilot projects in 3 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Vaccinations will begin 2018. The vaccine, known as RTS,S, acts against P. falciparum, the most deadly malaria parasite globally, and the most prevalent in Africa. Advanced clinical trials have shown RTS,S to provide partial protection against malaria in young children.

More about the RTS,S vaccine
WHO multi-country evaluation on LLINs
On 16 November 2016, WHO released the findings of a 5-year evaluation conducted in 340 locations across 5 countries: Benin, Cameroon, India, Kenya and Sudan. The findings of this study reaffirm the WHO recommendation of universal LLIN coverage for all populations at risk of malaria.

More on the evaluation of LLINs
For more information, please contact:

Saira Stewart
Technical officer, WHO
Mobile: +41 79 500 6538
Email: stewarts@who.int

Gregory HÄRTL
Coordinator, News, Social Media and Monitoring
Telephone: +41 22 791 4458
Mobile: +41 79 203 6715
Email: hartlg@who.int

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OB Montessori Center celebrates 50 golden years

OB Montessori Center, the pioneer of Montessori education in the Philippines, celebrated 50 golden years of the Montessori experience with a grand show at the plenary hall of the PICC yesterday.

“Young and Ready for the World” was directed by well-known playwright and Palanca awardee for literature Floy Quintos. It featured the school’s distinguished alumni Lea Salonga, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez and theater actors Karla Gutierrez of the Philippine Opera Company, Janine Santos, Arman Ferrer and Spanky Enriquez with 400 students from all OBMC campuses – Greenhills, Sta. Ana, Angeles, Las Piñas and Fairview.

OB Montessori Center’s 50th anniversary is an important milestone for a great institution that has become a key pillar and bold innovator in the field of education. The show is a fitting tribute to the school’s founder Preciosa Soliven, wife of The Philippine STAR’s founding publisher, the late Maximo V. Soliven.

“Young and Ready for the World” also recognized OBMC’s distinguished alumni who have become productive citizens and contributing forces to the country and to the world: Lea and Gerard Salonga, Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, Vicky Rose Pacheco, Miko Aspiras, Dino Jalandoni, Paulo Paulino,  Michael Deakin, Rafael Jocson, Happy Andrada, Jayvie Agojo, Rico Blanco and Aiza Seguerra among others.

GLOBAL PINOY: Filipina lawyer tops UK school

"LONDON —Lawyer Rhio Fuentes-Nuylan walked up the stage of the esteemed Queen Mary University of London Tuesday afternoon after a year of postgraduate studies under the equally prestigious Chevening Scholarship, which is under the auspices of the British government.

 Graduating with distinction, she bested other students in her class and was awarded the Top Performing Student for the Master of Science in Law and Finance, which she chose to support her work at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as a senior bank officer.

She and 26 other Filipinos finished their post-graduate studies in prestigious universities here in the United Kingdom.

 The Chevening Scholarship was supported by Megaworld Foundation, its partner in the Philippines in funding the students.

In an interview with The STAR, Nuylan said her experience in the United Kingdom has inspired her to contribute to the development of policies that would help create a strong financial structure for the Philippines.

This same motivation made her decide to work for the BSP since 2007.

“In government, there is an opportunity for people to become catalysts of change. At the BSP, our work involves providing the technical input for important financial legislation,” she said, citing the recent passing of the Islamic Banking Bill in the House of Representatives.

But studying abroad does not come without its challenges, according to Nuylan, who is married to an army special forces officer.

“Family will always be the primary consideration. They are priority. But, you just have to believe that it is worth the sacrifice,” she said.

“Despite the challenges, you have a goal set in your mind. When these obstacles appear in front of you, you need to re-orient yourself and focus on the objective. Those challenges should never make you give up however difficult they may be,” she said.

Her brother, who is now based here, provided her support and the company to help her overcome the homesickness.

The mother of two, who hails from San Fernando town in Masbate province, was a consistent honor student.   — James Mananghaya"

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/filipina-lawyer-tops-uk-school-000000309.html

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 12:00 PRAYER FOR PEACE TO END TERRORISM

Join us in praying worldwide wherever you are in your time zone Prayer for Peace today 12:00 noon of Sept 21, 2016 United Nations International Day of Peace until tom Sept 22, 2016 :-) :-)

Wherever you are, let's pray the

PRAYER FOR PEACE TO END TERRORISM

(hold hands & say to each other)

"God bless your day whatever your mood maybe

May the angels guide you and protect you from harm

If you are traveling, may you find the road

and arrive at your destination safely

If trouble comes along the way,

may it turn into blessings favorable to all

May you meet new friends and may the old ones stay

May the love of our Divine Creator fill your emptiness...

...and may you feel it in the vastness of the universe

If u get so tired today,

may you find time to look up at the sky,

feel the air, recharge and rejuvenate.

And in all the things you did today, may your faith increase

May you be inspired by the diversity of people's personalities,

and be grateful that you were granted the chance to lead them.

And at the end of the day tonight as you rest,

may you be thankful for all the blessings that this day had.

and pray to forgive those who offended you. Amen."

Thanks for sharing prayers :-) love :-) and peace :-)

God bless you! :-) :-)

#Pray4peace #prayforpeacetoendterrorism #endterrorism #peaceday #Sept21 #WorldPeaceDay #spiritualwellness #climatechange #PeaceLeadership #PeaceLeaders

"LET’S PRAY FOR PEACE TO END TERRORISM

& START BUILDING BLOCKS FOR PEACE

TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE WORLDWIDE!"

-Ambasador Zara Jane Juan

Convenor, Climate Change & Peace Building

2016 PEACE VIGIL IS PEACE INNOVATION: BUILDING BLOCKS FOR PEACE FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208609327782417&set=a.1047915569910.2008892.1586313473&type=3&theater

#YAPe! Search is on from June 21, 2016 to December 31, 2016

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208275947368115&set=a.2686226406657.2129533.1586313473&type=3&theater

OPEN TO KIDS, TWEENS & TEENS 4yrs old to 18yrs old

2016 Young Ambassadors of Peace for the Environment (YAPe!)

How to join:

First, make a ‘selfie’ & write your idea on how you can work for peace in your home, or in your schools, or in your neighborhood;

Second, draw a logo of your idea in a short bond paper ;

Third, make a video presentation of yourself elaborating your idea;

Fourth, upload your complete Video Idea entry to Wellness Pilipinas @ www.facebook.com/wellnesspilipinas

After submitting your complete entry, wait
for few days and you will receive your
Certificate of Recognition as YAPe! (PHL)

Not only that, if your entry is an
excellent idea, you will receive
gifts from sponsors! So, join now!

Peace :-)

Kindly share this announcement to all the kids you know.

Thanks :-)

Peace, Love and Joy be with you always!

God bless you!

Amb Juan (AJ)
Convenor, Climate Change & Peace Building 2016-2020
Climate Change & Wellness for Peace

WELLNESS IN BUSINESS: Philippines capable of double-digit growth – IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the Philippines to post double-digit economic growth amid a steady improvement in public investment efficiency over the next 15 years.

In a report, IMF economist Takuji Komatsuzaki said the improvement in public investment efficiency generates substantial additional benefits particularly through higher gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

“Assuming half of the inefficiency is eliminated in five years, the increase in real GDP after 15 years is nine percent to 11 percent,” Komatsuzaki said.

The IMF considered two scenarios in the working paper including a permanent increase in public investment by two percent of GDP financed by borrowing as well as the same increase in public investment financed by higher taxes.

“All scenarios exhibited sustained gains in output because improving public infrastructure leads to gains in productivity, which crowds in private investment,” Komatsuzaki said.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/03/02/1558449/philippines-capable-double-digit-growth-imf