Dengue, malaria impacting growth in SE Asia: WHO

While countries in South-East Asia have made substantial economic progress, diseases such as dengue and malaria fuelling a vicious cycle of poverty and have a significant impact on socioeconomic status of communities. These diseases are still killing thousands of people in the South-East Asia region, said a WHO press release on Thursday. On World Health Day - April 7 - the World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging countries to prevent and control vector-borne diseases including chikungunya, dengue, kala-azar, lymphatic filariasis and malaria, among others. “These are deadly but preventable diseases. The solution lies in a united and sustained effort from all of us. Ministries of health alone cannot control these diseases. Their control and prevention needs committed engagement from all sectors, strong political will and active community participation,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, according to a news agency.