The World Malaria Day is being observed today across the globe to recognise global efforts to control the disease. The aim of the day is to provide education and understanding on malaria as a global scourge that is preventable and curable.

This year the theme for the Day is “Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria”. AIR Correspondent reports that 25th of April was announced as the World Malaria Day in May 2007 by World Health Organization (WHO).

To mark the World Malaria day Union Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will launch an anti malaria drug developed by Indian Doctors. This drug will be an alternative to the global drug of choice Artemisinin. The raw material of the new drug is synethetic. Malaria is an infectious disease that is caused by plasmodium parasite through bites of infected mosquitoes.

It infects red blood cells in a human body and is characterised by fever, body ache, chills and sweating. India accounts for 70 percent of Malaria in South -East Asia Region.

Annually over 2 million cases and one thousand deaths are reported in the country. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are two basic elements to control the disease.