risks, building resilience and accelerating research, there is every reason to dream of a malaria-free future.”
Life-saving mosquito nets
More insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) — the main defense in most malaria-endemic countries — were distributed in 2020 than in any year on record.
And 2021 payouts have been strong overall, similar to pre-pandemic levels.
However, Benin, Eritrea, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, Uganda and Vanuatu distributed less than 60 percent of their ITNs, and Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, India, Pakistan and Sierra Leone did not distribute any.
tracking other interventions
In 2021, seasonal malaria chemoprevention – a highly effective, community-based intervention – reached nearly 45 million children in 15 African countries, a significant increase from 33.4 million in 2020 and 22.1 million in 2019.
And despite supply chain and logistics challenges during COVID, a record number of rapid diagnostic malaria tests were distributed to healthcare facilities in 2020.
An estimated 242 million artemisinin-based combination therapies — the most effective treatment for P. falciparum malaria — were shipped worldwide in 2021, compared to 239 million in 2019.
Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) are the primary vector control device used in most malaria-endemic countries. The WHO report compares two-year distribution levels.
Convergence of Threats
Despite achievements, challenges continued, spearheading the statistical field, particularly in Africathe carried about 95 percent of cases and 96 percent of deaths worldwide in 2021.
Disruptions during the pandemic and converging humanitarian crises, health-system challenges, limited funding, rising biological threats, and a decline in the effectiveness of key disease-control tools threatened the global response.
“Despite progress, the African region remains the hardest hit by this deadly disease,” he said WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti noted that intelligence tools and the funding to deploy them “are urgently needed to help us defeat malaria”.
Malaria funding in 2021 was $3.5 billion, up from the previous two years but well below the estimated $7.3 billion needed globally to stay on track.
other obstacles
At the same time, a decline in the effectiveness of key tools used to combat malariaespecially ITNs, is hinder further progress in the fight against malaria.
Threats include insecticide resistance, inadequate access, and loss of ITNs due to the stresses of daily use that exceed replacement.
Other rising risks include parasitic mutations affecting rapid diagnostic tests; increasing parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs; and an invasion of an insecticide-resistant mosquito.
Trends in malaria cases and deaths in 11 high-burden countries between 2015 and 2021.
New Ways of Hope
To help African countries build a more resilient response, the WHO recently launched a strategy Curbing antimalarial drug resistance and an initiative stop the spread of Anopheles stephensi Malaria Vector.
Additionally a new global framework on the response to malaria in urban areas, jointly developed by the WHO and UN habitatprovides guidance for city guides and malaria advocacy groups.
In the meantime, A robust research and development pipeline is expected to yield a new generation of malaria control Tools that could help accelerate progress toward global goals, including long-lasting bed nets with new insecticide combinations; spatial repellents; and genetic engineering of mosquitoes.
Also in the pipeline are new diagnostic tests, next-generation drugs to combat drug resistance, and other malaria vaccines.
According to the report, countries endemic to malaria should continue to adopt a primary health care approach to strengthen health systems and ensure quality services and interventions for all those in need.
Toddler protected from malaria by mosquito net in Ghana.
