WHO Calls For Revitalized Efforts To Combat Malaria

“The history of malaria teaches us a harsh lesson: when we divert our attention, the disease resurges.“

On World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the world to renew efforts—across governments, health systems, and communities—to accelerate the journey toward a malaria-free future.

Since the late 1990s, global action against Malaria has saved nearly 13 million lives and prevented over 2 billion cases.

Thanks to these efforts, 45 countries and one territory have been certified malaria-free, and many others are making steady progress.

In 2023 alone, 25 of the remaining 83 malaria-endemic countries reported fewer than 10 cases.

But history reminds us that progress can be fragile.

“The history of malaria teaches us a harsh lesson: when we divert our attention, the disease resurges,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“But with strong political will, sustained investment, and community engagement, malaria can be defeated.”

Innovations Are Making A Difference

Years of investment in new tools—including vaccines and advanced mosquito nets—are driving real progress.

On World Malaria Day , Mali became the 20th African country to introduce malaria vaccines, a milestone that could save tens of thousands of young lives each year.

These vaccines are especially critical in Africa, where children under five are among the most vulnerable.

There’s also been a significant shift in how Malaria is prevented. A new generation of insecticide-treated nets, which are more effective than earlier versions, now make up nearly 80% of all nets distributed in sub-Saharan Africa—up from just under 60% in 2022.

But The Fight Isn’t Over

Despite these gains, Malaria still claimed nearly 600,000 lives in 2023. The African region bears the heaviest burden, accounting for about 95% of global malaria cases each year.

Progress is being threatened by weak health systems, growing drug and insecticide resistance, and challenges like poverty, displacement, and climate change. Many at-risk communities still don’t have reliable access to prevention, testing, or treatment.

WHO also warns that looming funding cuts in 2025 could set back years of progress. More than half of WHO country offices in malaria-endemic regions report significant disruptions to malaria services.

A Global Push To Protect Progress

The theme for World Malaria Day 2025— “Malaria ends with us: reinvest, reimagine, reignite”—is a rallying cry for greater political leadership and financial support.

To reinvest, WHO and partners are calling on governments to increase domestic funding for primary healthcare, ensuring that every person at risk has access to life-saving malaria services.

Continued support from global donors, including the Global Fund and Gavi, remains essential.

To reimagine the response, focus must expand to include innovative drugs, diagnostics, vaccines, insecticides, and smarter strategies for delivering care.

Many countries are already stepping up. In March 2024, 11 African Health Ministers signed the Yaoundé Declaration, pledging stronger health systems, increased domestic resources, and better coordination across sectors.

“This is the kind of leadership the world must rally behind,” said Dr Daniel Ngamije, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme.

Everyone Has A Role To Play

Ending Malaria will take renewed commitment from every level of society—governments, healthcare professionals, researchers, the private sector, civil society, and communities themselves.

Together, we can protect hard-won progress, close the gaps, and push Malaria closer to becoming a disease of the past.

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