Gabon Distributes 1,000 Mosquito Nets and 2,500 Malaria Tests on World Malaria Day
Ministry of Health and WHO Collaborate to Combat Malaria
Libreville, April 25, 2025 – The Gabonese Ministry of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), distributed 1,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets and 2,500 rapid diagnostic tests for malaria to mark the 18th World Malaria Day.
Under the global theme “Reinventing, Redesigning, and Revising Our Efforts to End Malaria,” the event featured awareness campaigns and resource distribution to citizens and healthcare providers at the Melen Medical Center.
Malaria Remains a Critical Public Health Challenge
Alain Rotimbo, Secretary General of Health, emphasized the severity of malaria, stating, “Malaria is a leading cause of death globally, particularly in Africa, where 595,000 fatalities were recorded out of 263 million cases in 2024.” He highlighted Gabon’s high malaria incidence rate of 61.83 per 1,000 inhabitants, with children under five and pregnant women most affected.
Call for Strengthened Prevention Measures
Christiane Mengue M’Asseko, Director General of Melen Hospital, urged intensified efforts, stating, “We must enhance prevention strategies, including sanitation improvements, to control malaria effectively.”
Key initiatives announced include:
- A National Campaign for Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Net Distribution
- Reactivating the Melen Malaria Sentinel Site for enhanced surveillance
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