India and Uganada were the only two countries among the world's 11 highest malaria endemic nations, to report dip in the vector-borne cases between 2017 and 2018, achieving a 28 per cent reduction in such cases, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report.
While India had 2.6 million fewer malaria cases in 2018, Uganda had 1.5 million fewer cases last year, compared to the previous year, said the report "World Malaria Report 2019". However, India and Africa has one of the lowest funding per person at risk of being inflicted with malaria at just USD 0.2.
This success builds on India's 24 per cent reduction in malaria cases between 2016 and 2017 reported last year by the WHO.
However, the research also revealed that 19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and India carried almost 85 per cent of the global malaria burden.
According to the report, India's progress means the country no longer has the world's fourth highest malaria burden, though it still is the only non-African country among the top 11 countries with the most malaria globally.
"Although cases continue to decrease in the public sector, estimates indicate that there are still gaps in reporting from the private sector and those seeking treatment in India, as in Myanmar and Indonesia.
The estimated burden of malaria, the WHO report says is 6.7 million while only 4 million cases were reported in 2018.
"While we have come a long way, sustained focus and increased funding are crucial to boost India's fight against malaria and ensure that India continues to lead the world and becomes malaria-free by 2030," said Sanjeev Gaikwad, India Country Director of nonprofit organisation Malaria No More.
In 2016, India introduced its first National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016-2030) and has sustained progress toward defeating malaria since the plan's launch.
Globally, malaria afflicted 228 million people and killed an estimated 4 lakh people last year.