Marking Progress and Challenges in the Fight Against Malaria: Reflections from the World Malaria Report
The newly released World Malaria Report, prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO), spotlights a pivotal moment in the fight against malaria. From 2000 to 2023, the global community averted 2.2 billion cases and saved 12.7 million lives—a testament to the power of innovation, collaboration, and commitment to malaria elimination. Yet, with nearly 600,000 lives lost in 2023, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa, malaria remains a formidable challenge. Fragile health systems, funding gaps, and the compounded effects of climate change and conflict continue to hinder progress toward the WHO’s elimination targets.
Vector control remains central to malaria prevention. In 2023, 78% of the 195 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) delivered in sub-Saharan Africa featured next-generation technologies such as pyrethroid-PBO or dual-active ingredients, offering enhanced protection against resistant mosquitoes. While this represents significant progress, only 52% of at-risk populations in the region slept under ITNs in 2023, an improvement from 2015 but still far from the goal of universal coverage. Among young children and pregnant women, coverage was slightly higher at 59%. Over two decades, more than three billion ITNs have been distributed globally, but widespread pyrethroid resistance—now confirmed in 86% of monitored malaria-endemic countries—demands accelerated adoption of these more effective tools.
Encouragingly, countries across regions are making headway, including in the Greater Mekong, where our Indo-Pacific Initiative supports targeted interventions to address regional vector control challenges. These efforts exemplify the transformative impact of scaling innovative solutions alongside strengthening health systems. As the World Malaria Report reminds us, sustained momentum is crucial to closing protection gaps, overcoming resistance, and achieving a malaria-free future.
The “Big Push” initiative represents a timely call to action, uniting global stakeholders to address the persistent challenges in malaria control. By aligning partner support with the specific needs of endemic countries, the initiative emphasizes the importance of bolstering primary healthcare, fostering community engagement, and ensuring the rapid adoption of transformative tools. This coordinated effort, rooted in the Lusaka agenda, underscores the critical need for increased funding, improved data systems, and a whole-of-society approach to reinvigorate progress against malaria.
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Each year, the World malaria report serves as a vital tool to assess global progress and gaps in the fight against malaria. This year’s report provides a critical and up-to-date snapshot of efforts to control and eliminate the disease in 83 countries worldwide.
The report also introduces, for the first time, a dedicated chapter emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and effective response, with a focus on reaching the populations most vulnerable to malaria. Groups at high risk of a malaria infection include children under 5, women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, people with disabilities, and people in remote areas with limited healthcare access.
Download the full report here: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/379751/9789240104440-eng.pdf?sequence=1
More details about the report are available on the WHO website: https://www.who.int/teams/global-malaria-programme/reports/world-malaria-report-2024
