India is one of the ten countries in South-East Asia Region where malaria is endemic and kill thousands of people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Forty per cent of the global population at risk of malaria live in the South-East Asia Region-- home to a quarter of the world's population.
Malaria is endemic in 10 of the 11 countries of the Region which includes India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
Maldives is the only country in the Region that has remained free of malaria (malaria-free since 1984).
Sri Lanka made remarkable progress in controlling malaria by bringing cases down from 203,000 in 2000 to zero locally acquired malaria cases since November 2012, WHO said.
On World Health Day on April 7, WHO urged 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.
"This region recently defeated polio, it is time for us to show the same resolve to defeat malaria, dengue and other vector- borne diseases," she added.
Vector-borne diseases account for 17 per cent of the estimated global burden of all infectious diseases.
To interrupt transmission, WHO recommended an annual mass drug administration of single doses of two medicines to all eligible people in endemic areas.
"With mass drug administration with effective coverage, there is no reason why diseases like lymphatic filariasis cannot be eliminated from the Region.
"Countries must prioritize vector-borne diseases in their national development agendas. Communities need to be empowered to fight this battle and protect themselves. Preventing and controlling vector-borne diseases is everyone's responsibility," she said.
