The global fight against malaria is facing a critical setback, with a World Health Organization (WHO) report revealing a year-on-year increase of around 5 million malaria cases in 2022, surpassing global targets to contain it, and a $3.7 billion funding gap in vaccine response.
Released yesterday, the WHO’s annual World Malaria Report attributed this surge to pandemic-related disruptions, climate change-induced extreme weather events, and pre-existing challenges like drug and insecticide resistance.
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, emphasised the severity of the situation, stating that more than ever, the world is at risk of losing our fight against this disease.
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The report disclosed an estimated 249 million malaria cases in 2022, exceeding the WHO’s target of 26.2 cases per 1,000 at-risk individuals, with the actual global incidence recorded at 58.4 cases.
The report highlighted two new malaria vaccines expected to be available next year. However, it also underscored a substantial funding gap in the response, revealing that while $4.1 billion was invested in the global effort in 2022, approximately $7.8 billion was needed to address the escalating crisis.
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