The 9th Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA) Annual Conference and Exhibition will open on September 17, 2023 in Addis Ababa.

Briefing journalists about the 5-day global conference, Pan-African Mosquito Control Association Chairman Professor Dilnesaw Yehualaw said about 1,000 participants are expected to attend the meeting.

According to him, the conference will advise on activities to prevent and control malaria.

The spread of waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases is increasing both in Ethiopia and Africa, he noted, adding that the main aim of the conference is to combat malaria in Africa.

Health Ministry Public Relations and Communication Director, Dr. Tegegn Regassa pointed out that 95 percent of people infected with malaria are Africans. Thus this is an African agenda.

In Ethiopia, the number of individuals contracting and succumbing to malaria has undergone a major decline of 90 percent over the last decade, he added.

Nonetheless, the spread of malaria has been on the upswing in the past two years mainly due to natural and man-made problems like climate change and security issues.

Ethiopia faces a significant malaria socio-economic burden beyond the health issues with the mosquito-borne parasites falciparum and P. vivax being the predominant malaria cases.

The ministry, in collaboration with partners, is working on the prevention and control of malaria in Ethiopia, it was learned.

Nearly seventy five percent of Ethiopia’s landmass is considered malarious.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency