Revolutionary vaccines roll out across 25 countries, safeguarding 10 million kids yearly. Next-gen nets with dual insecticides cover 84% of aid distributions. Gene drives targeting mosquitoes and long-acting injectables promise game-changing impact. These advances, paired with refined treatments, signal a turning point.

WHO’s bold initiative, ‘Committed to Ending Malaria: We Can Do It Now. We Must Do It Now,’ galvanizes action. Two decades of triumphs—47 malaria-free nations, averted millions of cases and deaths—bolster confidence. The Greater Mekong’s 90% case drop exemplifies resilience against resistance.

Progress tempers caution: 2024 saw 282 million infections and 610,000 fatalities, edging up slightly. Drug resistance looms large, especially artemisinin in Africa. Insecticide resistance surges, funding dwindles amid aid cuts, and climate disruptions, wars, and humanitarian woes intensify risks, per the 2025 World Malaria Report.

Countermeasures shine through: Widespread chemoprevention, rapid diagnostics, and treatments save young lives. Strong local strategies, global collaboration, innovation funding, and community engagement are vital.

National programs adapt to local realities, while partnerships ensure sustained support. Research unlocks solutions to emerging threats. The question echoes: With proven means available, no death is acceptable. This World Malaria Day isn’t just observance—it’s a mandate for collective, immediate resolve to make malaria history.

The WHO conducted a survey in 49 low- and middle-income countries, finding that children who were exposed to corporal punishment—those who were hit or given a punishment intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, no matter how mild—had a 24 percent lower chance of development compared to children who were not exposed to corporal punishment. Globally, an average of 1.2 billion children are subjected to physical punishment every year. The report states that 17 percent of all children who were victims of physical punishment in the last month were severely punished, such as by being hit on the head, face, or ears, or by being hit hard and repeatedly.

Parents, teachers, and child care providers often resort to these methods, citing their desire to correct their children’s behavior and maintain discipline. They may believe that hitting children is an expression of love, aimed at preventing them from going astray. However, the evidence suggests this is not the case.

According to the WHO, there is now clear scientific evidence that physical punishment poses a number of risks to children’s health. It does not benefit children’s behavior, development, or well-being, nor does it benefit parents or society. Clinical psychologists suggest that physical punishment tends to exacerbate anger and stubbornness in children. Thus, physical punishment is not the correct approach.

Instead of physical punishment, alternative methods are advised, including logical conversations, where the child is lovingly explained why their behavior is wrong and what its consequences might be, and praising good behavior, where children are rewarded and encouraged for positive actions, encouraging them to repeat such behavior.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 calls for ending violence against children in several of its goals, with Goal 16.2 explicitly stating that “abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children must end.” However, this goal remains unmet even five years later.

While physical punishment is prevalent around the world and across different cultures, there are regional variations. For example, approximately 41 percent of children in Europe and Central Asia are physically punished at home, while the figure is 75 percent in the Middle East and North Africa. The disparity is even greater in schools, with only 25 percent of children in the Western Pacific region experiencing physical punishment during their schooling, compared to over 70 percent in Africa and Central America. Both girls and boys experience it at similar rates, though girls may face different forms or methods of punishment in some places.

The report also highlights that children with disabilities are at a higher risk of physical punishment. Additionally, physical punishment is more likely to occur in poor communities and communities facing economic or racial discrimination.

Physical punishment is often associated with psychological punishment, which includes belittling, shaming, and intimidating the child. In many societies, physical punishment is not considered wrong, and it is also linked to religious and cultural traditions.

Currently, 68 out of 193 countries have completely banned physical punishment. Sweden was the first country to do so in 1979. In the UK, it is prohibited in Scotland and Wales, but still permitted in domestic settings in England and Northern Ireland.

The report suggests that to prevent physical punishment, alongside implementing laws, awareness-raising campaigns should be launched. It is possible to explain to parents that physical punishment has a negative impact on children’s minds and hearts, and by showing them new ways of teaching with love and understanding, they can be helped. Children learn by example, so if parents want their children to behave well, they should first model that behavior themselves. The report shows that if parents knew about other, more effective methods of disciplining children, they would use them.

The CDC has issued a Level-2 Travel Health Notice, advising increased precautions due to the rising cases of chikungunya. This includes countries such as Bolivia in South America, Guangdong province in China, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion, Somalia, and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean region. Furthermore, the CDC has also issued warnings for American travelers regarding Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Chikungunya is not uncommon in the United States. However, according to CDC data, before 2006, chikungunya infections were very rare among American travelers. From 2006-2013, an average of 28 people in the United States were confirmed to have contracted the chikungunya virus each year. These were all travelers who had arrived in or returned to the United States from affected areas in Asia, Africa, or the Indian Ocean. The CDC states that there have been no locally spread cases in the US since 2019. Nevertheless, 199 and 46 American citizens have been reported to have contracted the virus while traveling in 2024 and the current year, respectively.

Speaking at a global forum here, hosted by the CII in collaboration with the Gates Foundation and the Women’s Collective Forum, the billionaire philanthropist applauded India’s leadership in innovation, health and sustainability.

The forum brought together global industry leaders, policymakers, and investors to accelerate India’s role in driving scalable, sustainable, and technology-driven solutions for global challenges.

Gates highlighted that India is building the future with its pioneering role in affordable healthcare, AI-powered diagnostics, and digital public infrastructure. He reinforced the importance of scaling India’s innovative solutions globally to address pressing challenges in emerging economies.

Gates also highlighted India’s rapid advancements, calling its digital ecosystem, inclusive economic growth, and technological breakthroughs a model for the world. “India has made significant progress in health and development through low-cost innovations,” he added.

Looking ahead, Gates reaffirmed his Foundation’s commitment to working alongside Indian innovators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to scale breakthroughs in AI, healthcare, and sustainable development globally.

Smriti Irani, Chairperson, Alliance for Global Good Gender Equity and Equality, commended the Foundation and the leadership of Gates “for putting money where it really matters”, while highlighting the critical role of investment for social innovation.

Calling it “a transformative force that reshapes societies”, Irani spoke about the power of India in bringing forward low cost, tech-enabled solutions which are addressing critical global challenges of health, nutrition and food security, among others. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, emphasised India’s pioneering role in digital public infrastructure, calling it a blueprint for the Global South.

“The success of initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat health programme and digital financial inclusion, AI-powered agricultural solutions, proves that when policy and technology align, we can create scalable, sustainable solutions that serve as global benchmarks,” Sanjiv Puri, CII President, added.