The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its 2024 report on global malaria progress. The report highlights the ongoing challenge of controlling the disease worldwide.
According to the WHO, an estimated 263 million cases and 597,000 malaria deaths occurred globally in 2023, representing a slight increase from 2022. Notably, the majority of these deaths – 95% – were reported in the WHO’s African Region, where many vulnerable populations continue to face significant barriers to accessing essential health services.
To address this imbalance, the report emphasizes the need for a more inclusive and effective response to malaria control efforts. This includes targeting high-risk groups such as children under 5, women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, people with disabilities, and those living in remote areas with limited healthcare access.
Key statistics from the report include an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria averted since 2000, highlighting progress made in reducing the disease burden. However, the WHO stresses that more work is needed to reverse global trends and ensure equitable access to life-saving tools for all those affected by the disease.
The report’s findings underscore the importance of addressing these disparities and ensuring that everyone has access to the services they need to prevent, detect, and treat malaria.
Source: https://www.who.int/teams/global-malaria-programme/reports/world-malaria-report-2024