World Malaria Day event outside Dhaka for first time

The government plans to eliminate malaria by 2020

The government is planning to hold the main programme of the World Malaria Day this year in Bandarban, a region most affected by the parasitic disease.

It will be the first time the main programme will be held outside Dhaka when the country marks the day on April 25.

In Bandarban, the civil surgeon’s office will host the programme, expected to be attended by State Minister for Health Zahid Malik and State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing.

Health camps will also be organised.

Most malaria cases in the country are recorded in the CHT and Bandarban has the highest rate of infection.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year said that her government planned to eliminate malaria by 2020.

Malaria, a disease spread via mosquitoes, is preventable and curable. According to the World Health Organisation, nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria.

In 2015, the disease killed an estimated 429,000 people while there were roughly 212 million cases.

Source: dhakatribune