Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released alarming data on malaria cases worldwide. In 2023, an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 malaria deaths occurred globally, marking an increase of 11 million cases compared to 2022.
About 95% of these deaths were concentrated in the WHO African region, where many individuals at risk still lack access to essential services for prevention, detection, and treatment.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of addressing the burden of malaria.
Dr Ghebreyesus highlighted the need for increased investments and actions in high-burden African countries to curb the threat of malaria.
“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,” he said
The report noted that deploying WHO-recommended tools offers renewed hope in the fight against malaria.
As of November 2024, 44 countries and one territory have been certified malaria-free by WHO. However, funding for malaria control remains inadequate, particularly in high-burden African countries.
The global health body urged countries to prioritize primary health care and adopt strategies addressing the root causes of malaria.
