Bangkok <\/span><\/strong>May 7, 2018 <\/strong><\/span> - The Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA) and the DT Families Foundation have signed a memorandum of understanding to take concrete steps towards eradicating malaria from Thailand.

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Mr. Benjamin Rolfe (left), Executive Chairman of APLMA, and Ms. Tippaporn Ariyaworaram (right), Chairperson of the DT Families Foundation.

           <\/strong>Malaria was once the leading cause of death among humans and remains a significant global health challenge. Currently, the threat of malaria is rising due to increasing drug resistance. In the Greater Mekong Subregion, from 2000 to 2015, there has been substantial progress in malaria elimination globally, with a reduction in incidence rates by over 37% and mortality rates by over 62%. In Thailand, malaria cases have decreased by over 65%, and between 2010 and 2016, 35 provinces in Thailand were declared malaria-free zones, bringing the country closer to its goal of eliminating malaria by 2025.

           <\/strong>However, global progress in malaria elimination has stalled. According to the World Malaria Report 2017, there were approximately 216 million malaria cases worldwide, an increase of 5 million from the previous year. Drug-resistant malaria is beginning to spread in the Greater Mekong Subregion, posing a risk of renewed malaria outbreaks and potential fatalities, which could have severe economic and social impacts and challenge public health systems.

           <\/strong>“This situation serves as a warning that our past successes are at risk, and strategies for malaria control that have worked before may not be effective in the future,” said Mr. Benjamin Rolfe, Executive Chairman of APLMA. “Eradicating malaria will require more ingenuity and innovation than before, such as new treatments and vector control methods, along with collaboration across sectors to combat malaria in endemic areas.” In Thailand, malaria continues to spread in remote and border areas, where communities are increasingly aware of the disease's harmful effects.

           <\/strong>“Many communities are already struggling with limited access to healthcare and education,” said Ms. Tippaporn Ariyaworaram, Chairperson of the DT Families Foundation. “Eliminating malaria in these hard-to-reach areas will improve the lives of thousands in need and enhance our capacity to combat drug resistance in malaria.”

           <\/strong>This collaboration is a perfect match for both parties, as APLMA is dedicated to eradicating malaria from the region, while the DT Families Foundation focuses on improving access to healthcare and education.

           <\/strong>“The collaboration today marks the beginning of effective partnerships that will pool resources and raise awareness about the importance of malaria elimination in Thailand,” Dr. Rolfe added. “One of our initiatives is ‘M2030’<\/span> <\/strong>, an unprecedented collaboration that will bring together leading organizations and personnel from across Asia to work under a unified brand towards the goal of malaria eradication.”

           <\/strong>Through this partnership, both parties will work together and leverage their unique strengths towards a single goal: the eradication of malaria.

           <\/strong>“Every initiative will lead to positive change if organizations, whether public, private, or charitable, prioritize the well-being and needs of society,” Ms. Tippaporn stated. “Our foundation is committed to building a strong community and creating a sustainable world where everyone can fully realize their potential and support one another.”

Thank you for the information from www.m2030.org.com<\/a><\/p>