Global efforts to curb malaria deaths across Africa
New data from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveal that despite an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria and 12.7 million deaths have been averted since 2000, the disease remains a serious global health threat, particularly in the WHO African Region. “No one should die of malaria; yet the disease continues to disproportionately harm people living in the African region, especially young children and pregnant women”, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. He further observed, “An expanded package of lifesaving tools now offers better protection against the disease, but stepped-up investments and action in high-burden African countries are needed to curb the threat”.
As of November 2024, 44 countries and one territory have been certified malaria-free by WHO, and many more are steadily progressing towards the goal. Of the 83 malaria-endemic countries, 25 countries now report fewer than 10 cases of malaria a year, an increase from four countries in 2000.
According to WHO’s latest World Malaria Report, there were an estimated 263 million cases and 597,000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2023. This represents about 11 million more cases in 2023 compared to 2022, and nearly the same number of deaths. Approximately 95 per cent of the deaths occurred in the WHO African Region, where many at risk still lack access to the services they need to prevent, detect and treat the disease.
Since 2015, the WHO African Region has also achieved a 16 per cent reduction in its malaria mortality rate. However, the estimated 2023 mortality rate of 52.4 deaths per 100,000 population at risk is still more than double the target level of 23 deaths per 100,000 population set by the Global Technical Strategy for malaria 2016-2030 and progress must be accelerated.
Earlier this year, ministers of health from 11 African countries that account for two-thirds of the global malaria burden (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda) signed a declaration pledging to sustainably and equitably lower the disease burden and address the root causes by strengthening national health systems, enhancing coordination and ensuring the strategic use of information, among other actions.
Alongside stepped-up political commitment, the wider deployment of WHO-recommended tools is poised to drive further gains in malaria-endemic countries. As of December 2024, 17 countries had introduced malaria vaccines through routine childhood immunization. The continued scale-up of the vaccines in Africa is expected to save tens of thousands of young lives every year.
New-generation nets, which provide better protection against malaria than pyrethroid-only nets, are becoming more widely available, supporting efforts to combat mosquito resistance to pyrethroids (organic insecticide).
