Over the last 25 years, global efforts have averted nearly 13 million malaria deaths, yet we must redouble our efforts to eliminate the disease.United Nations, 25 April 2025

The implementation of bold evidence-based tactics by worldwide leaders during the late 1990s successfully prevented over two billion cases of malaria alongside nearly 13 million deaths since the year 2000. Through these initiatives 45 countries and one territory have gained malaria-free status while additional nations progress toward elimination.

The fact that 25 out of 83 countries battling endemic malaria transmission reported fewer than ten cases in 2023 demonstrates the significant progress that can be achieved through continuous effort. Yet, as WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns, these hard-won gains remain precarious: The disease rebounds and affects the most vulnerable when attention is diverted. The eradication of malaria becomes achievable through steadfast political leadership, ongoing financial support, cooperative efforts across various sectors, and authentic community collaborations.

WHO announced that sustained investments in malaria vaccines and control measures are starting to show positive outcomes.

This World Malaria Day marks Mali's deployment of a malaria vaccine that will protect young children from the continent's deadliest disease becoming the 20th African nation to do so. Experts predict tens of thousands of young lives will be saved annually once these vaccines reach full deployment. The distribution of advanced insecticide-treated mosquito nets across broader areas promises to further curtail malaria transmission and help us achieve our goal of eradicating the disease.

Malaria remains a critical public health challenge despite significant accomplishments. The year 2023 witnessed nearly 600,000 deaths from malaria which affected African regions more severely than anywhere else.

The progress in high-burden areas has been impeded due to fragile health systems and the emergence of drug and insecticide resistance alongside missing links in essential prevention, diagnosis and treatment services. Climate change along with conflict situations and poverty-related challenges together with population displacement intensifies existing obstacles. This year's expected funding cuts will likely invalidate progress to date and put millions of people in danger.

Under the banner “Malaria Ends With Us: World Malaria Day 2025 under the theme “Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite” calls for increased political and financial commitments to protect existing progress against malaria. Reinvest: The WHO together with its partners encourage nations where malaria is endemic to increase their national funding for the disease with an emphasis on primary health care. Reignite: Everyone from community volunteers to national governments needs to recommit themselves to stopping malaria transmission at all levels. The fight against malaria requires renewed investments in health systems and restored collective determination to safeguard existing victories and eradicate malaria permanently.

References:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/04/1162571