By Erica Oakley, Humanitas Global
3.3 million malaria-related deaths have been avoided since 2000, that’s according to the 2013 World Malaria Report released today by World Health Organization. Though there has been a 45% decrease in deaths related to malaria for all age groups and 51% decrease for children under 5, there are still 3.4 billion people - mostly in Africa and south-east Asia - still at risk.
The report noted that funding for malaria programs and initiatives has slowed since 2011. In 2012, it was estimated that the need for funding was $5.2 billion; however, funding for malaria programs equaled less than half of that amount leaving a gap of $2.6 billion.
The gap in funding has impacted access to bed nets treated with insecticides known as insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN). Between 2011 and 2012, the report notes that progress towards eliminating malaria in Africa appeared to plateau based on funding reductions for malaria control interventions, including ITNs.
In sub-Saharan Africa only 54% of households have access to one or more ITNs, a dramatic increase from only 3% of households owning at least one ITN in 2000. Years 2004-2010 saw an increase of 139 million ITNs (from 6 million to 145 million, respectively). However, reductions of ITNs to 92 million in 2011 and to 70 million in 2012 show that the plateau in malaria cases could continue to take a negative turn.
The report further notes that 59 countries are on track to meet the MDG target of reversing the incidence of malaria, and 52 countries are on track to reducing their malaria case incidence rates by 75. While this is positive, they only account for approximately 4% of the total global estimated cases of malaria. According to the report:
- 97 countries and territories currently experience malaria transmission
- More than 80% of estimated malaria deaths in 2012 occurred in only 17 countries
- More than 80% of cases of malaria occur in only 18 countries (Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia accounted for approximately 40% of worldwide cases
While there has been great progress towards tackling and eliminating malaria, there is still much to be done, including the urgent need for increased funding and political commitment to meet international targets for reducing and eliminating malaria cases and deaths. As stated by Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of World Health Organization, “if we remain determined and act with urgency, we can beat this ancient enemy once and for all.”
Learn more by visiting the World Health Organization's website where you can find the press release, links to the report and their efforts to eliminate malaria.
