Recharging the anti-malaria battle

THE latest warning by the Heads of State and Government during the 2024 UN General Assembly could not have come at a better time considering the urgent need to increase funding for malaria prevention and reduce associated deaths. Indeed, it is a public health necessity and a moral imperative.

In their warning ahead of the Global Fund Replenishment in 2025, following concerns from new modelling conducted by the Malaria Atlas Project, the world leaders say that even if current funding levels are maintained, a perfect storm of threats could still result in more cases and deaths due to malaria.

The RBM Partnership to End Malaria says, “From the new models, if there is a flatlining of malaria resources (with the Global Fund Replenishment again achieving approximately $15.6 billion in total and allocations across the three diseases remaining on par with the current cycle)the world could see an additional 112 million malaria cases and up to 280,700 additional deaths across the three years, with upsurges and outbreaks happening right across the continent of Africa.”

This is concerning and underscores the urgent need for increased funding to prevent a global health crisis. It highlights the critical importance of sustained efforts to combat the deadly disease.
The WHO reports that there are nearly 250 million malaria cases and over 600,000 deaths annually, primarily affecting young children and impoverished countries. According to the organisation, Africa bears more than 90 per cent of the global malaria burden. Nigeria alone accounts for about 27 per cent of global malaria cases and deaths. This staggering toll places immense pressure on already overstretched healthcare systems.

Nigeria records an estimated 100 million malaria cases annually. Despite efforts at control, malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death in the country. The disease kills over 200,000 Nigerians every year, many of them children under the age of five. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the disease. Malaria is endemic in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Malaria is not just a health issue—it is an economic one. It slows down productivity by keeping millions out of work. The disease costs Nigeria about $1 billion annually in treatment costs, loss of income due to missed workdays, and reduced productivity.
In recent years, there have been significant advancements in the fight against malaria. New drugs, insecticide-treated bed nets, and diagnostic tools have saved millions of lives. The malaria vaccine offers a glimmer of hope.

However, the fight against malaria faces numerous challenges. Drug and insecticide resistance threatens to undermine years of progress. Moreover, climate change is increasing mosquito habitats, spreading malaria transmission zones to new regions.

To defeat malaria, the global community must adopt a multi-pronged approach that includes political will, scientific innovation, and community engagement. Governments must prioritise funding for malaria programmes.

Local communities play a crucial role in the malaria battle. Empowering community health workers, educating families on preventive practices, and ensuring access to affordable treatments are vital in reducing the disease’s transmission. Communities should be made to monitor mosquito breeding sites, maintain hygiene, and use insecticide-treated nets.

The fight against malaria is a pressing health challenge of our time. It is a disease that thrives on poverty, weak healthcare systems, and lack of infrastructure. Yet, the tools and knowledge to eradicate it exist.

What is needed is the collective will to ensure that no child dies from a mosquito bite, no family is pushed deeper into poverty because of the cost of treatment, and no country loses its potential because of a preventable disease.

Therefore, the battle against malaria must be intensified for better health, economies, and the future.