World Malaria Day – Accelerate the fight against malaria for a more equitable world
According World Health Organization (WHO), there were estimated 247 million new cases of malaria in 2021 compared to 245 million in 2020. There were also estimated 619 000 lives lost in 2020, with 96% of these deaths occurring in Africa region.
Inequalities that hinder progress towards a malaria-free world
Despite the universal right to quality malaria services, many people, especially vulnerable populations, lack access to these services.
- Healthcare workers in underserved populations often lack access to essential resources, such as diagnostic tools, antimalarial medicines, and protective gear. This can make it difficult to diagnose and treat malaria effectively, leading to delays in care and increased mortality.
- There is also shortage of healthcare workers in many malaria-endemic countries, especially in rural and remote areas. This can lead to long wait times for care and make it difficult for people to access the services they need.
- Children under 5, particularly those from poor households in sub-Saharan Africa, are five times more disproportionately affected by malaria mortality. In 2022, an estimated 4 out of 5 malaria-related deaths in the African region were among children under 5 years of age.
- Pregnant women are more susceptible to malaria due to reduced immunity, and the disease can have severe consequences for both mother and baby.
- Gender inequalities and harmful gender norms increase women’s risk of contracting malaria.
Call to action
To address this, we need to ensure that everyone has access to the malaria services they need, especially vulnerable populations. Christian Health Associations have joined the Call to Action in both francophone and anglophone endemic regions, in the fight to malaria for a more equitable world.
