Malaria on the rise in City

In 2008, they will deliver some 1.5 million nets to 2.2 million children in India, Togo, Mozambique, Malawi, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Central Africa Republic, Nigeria, and Rwanda.

It is pertinent to mention here that acute outbreak of malaria is being reported in various parts of Sindh as over the past few months more than 100 cases have been detected in Shikarpur district only.

To eliminate malaria in different parts of the country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is also engaged in the 'Roll Back Malaria Programme' supporting the government's target of reducing the malaria levels by half by 2010. According to the WHO, the estimated number of annual malaria cases in Pakistan is more than 1.6 million.

Prof Dr Iqbal Chaudhry, Acting Director International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) Karachi University, said that malaria is an ancient disease that has produced a treasury of ethno-botanical information with regard to its treatment.

"However, malaria is an increasing threat to humanity worldwide causing more than five 500 million infections and one million deaths every year. The poor are the worst affected and many of them treat themselves with traditional herbal medicines as these are often more available and affordable," he said.

 He underscored the significance of preventive measures against malaria causing one death every 30 seconds globally.