Egypt claims victory over malaria while cases rise elsewhere
- The global malaria response saw an increase of 11 million cases and 600,000 deaths in 2023.
- Funding for malaria interventions fell short by $4.3 billion in 2023.
- Urgent action is required to reverse the stagnation and prevent further loss of life.
In 2023, the global malaria response faltered significantly with an alarming increase of approximately 11 million cases and 600,000 deaths reported worldwide. This marks a concerning trend in a public health crisis that has already seen the eradication of malaria in 44 countries and one territory, yet challenges such as climate change, conflict, and inadequate funding have reversed progress in several regions, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has issued a call to action for wealthy nations to alleviate financial gaps that hinder effective malaria prevention and treatment initiatives. Despite the need for $8.3 billion annually, only $4 billion was secured in 2023, resulting in a $4.3 billion shortfall, exacerbating the struggle against malaria which primarily affects vulnerable populations, particularly children under five who accounted for three-quarters of malaria-related deaths in 2022. Without immediate intervention to close this funding gap, the situation threatens to worsen, thereby jeopardizing lives and progress towards malaria reduction goals set forth by the World Health Organization, which aims to decrease malaria deaths by 75% by 2025 compared to figures from 2015.