Today, at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, African leaders are faced with an uncomfortable truth: progress against malaria has stalled, funding is tightening and the risks of resurgence are growing.
In 2024 alone, Africa accounted for 270.8 million malaria cases, 96% of the global total (up from 92% in 2010), and nearly 600,000 deaths, most of them among children under five. Yet we also reaffirmed something just as important: Africa’s determination to take greater control of its health systems and protect its future.
Malaria progress has plateaued
Malaria is an economic, social and development issue. ALMA (African Leader Malaria Alliance), with advocacy group Malaria No More UK, published findings that our countries lose up to 1.3% of GDP growth every year because of malaria. How we choose to finance the response over the next five years will determine whether we consolidate decades of progress or lose them.
