Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite
This World Malaria Day, we explore the role of pharmacists in malaria management and treatment
On 25th April, the World Health Organisation (WHO) observes World Malaria Day, highlighting the ongoing threat malaria poses and advocating for measures that contribute to the elimination of the disease. This year’s theme is ‘Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite’: a grassroots campaign that aims to re-energise efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action, to ending malaria.
In 2023 alone, there were 263 million new cases of malaria, leading to nearly 600,000 deaths. What makes these statistics all the more significant is that many of these deaths will have been preventable; we have the knowledge, tools and prevention, testing and treatment methods to defeat the disease, but if these interventions are not implemented promptly, malaria can rapidly escalate to severe illness.
95% of all malaria cases are in Africa (a continent home to 21 Commonwealth countries), with lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) being the worst-affected. Nigeria – a valued member of the Commonwealth Partnerships Association (CPA) – accounts alone for for around a quarter of the global malaria burden and, aside from Africa, the threat of the disease is felt significantly in other Commonwealth nations including Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Guyana.
This World Malaria Day, in light of the shifting global aid landscape, the CPA joins the WHO in calling for reinvestment in proven interventions, the reimagining of strategies to overcome current obstacles, and for the global health community to reignite our collective efforts to accelerate progress towards ending malaria.
The role of pharmacists in malaria management and treatment
Pharmacists – often the most accessible healthcare workers in their communities – play vital roles in malaria management and prevention, particularly in low-resource settings.
In Nigeria, which carries the largest malaria burden of any country in the world, pharmacists and especially community pharmacists are at the vanguard of the country’s efforts to combat a disease from which children and pregnant women are most at risk of mortality.
Among many other responsibilities, they play an important role in promoting public awareness of and providing information about the disease and vaccines and supporting interventions such as the issuing of insecticide-treated nets to communities. While pharmacists in Nigeria are not generally directly involved in vaccine administration, they have a significant responsibility in ensuring patients receive correct treatment when dispensing drugs over-the-counter.
Likewise, in Sierra Leone, pharmacists are the first line of defence against malaria, often being the first point of contact for patients seeking treatment. Pharmacists are trained to implement the ‘Three T’ approach (Test, Treat, Track) and provide malaria treatment.
In public hospitals, pharmacists may also be responsible for managing the supply of antimalarial drugs, ensuring they are readily available, including implementing systems for better reporting of the usage of antimalarials and prevalence of malaria within hospitals. Pharmacists are also trained to promote the appropriate use of antimalarial drugs, ensuring patients receive the most effective and safe treatment
Broadly speaking, in Ghana, pharmacies are the most accessible health facilities for patients with diseases of common occurrence. Pharmacists dispense antimalarials, ensuring the safe and effective provision of medication by monitoring their quality and educating patients on their use, and may also advise their colleagues within health systems about the treatment of malaria through medication.
Furthermore, some pharmacists are trained to conduct rapid diagnostic tests to detect malaria cases in their communities – an alternative to malaria microscopy diagnosis that can prove especially useful in resource-constrained settings.
Zambia is a largely rural country, so community pharmacists contribute immensely to the availability of medicines in the country. The role of Zambian pharmacists in malaria prevention and treatment is especially felt in remote areas where access to public health facilities is limited, conducting outreach programmes to ensure the availability of essential medicines.
In recognition of the role they can and do play in combating the disease, pharmacists in Cameroon are legally required to be trained in malaria prevention and treatment. Pharmacies are the main source of antimalarial drugs to patients, and trained pharmacists are paramount to them being dispensed according to regulations.
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