Africa is at risk of recording up to 1.8 million malaria-related deaths by the end of 2025 if urgent and sustained interventions are not implemented. According to the 2024 World Malaria Report by the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria killed 600,000 people in 2023 alone.
The report further shows that Africa bears 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths, translating to 13.7 deaths per 100,000 people exposed. Despite decades of progress in prevention and treatment, malaria continues to be one of the leading causes of death in Africa.
At the launch of the Coalition of Parliamentarians to End Malaria in Africa held in Accra, Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, emphasized the importance of a decentralized, community-led approach in the battle against malaria.
“When parliamentarians are appropriating funds, we need to make sure that even funds go beyond just health when we’re fighting against malaria. Decentralizing the fight against malaria is really, really important because we need to give the leadership, the accountability, the activities back to the grassroots. We need to go back to the basics. If we’re not able to do it there, then we would have collectively failed.”
Ugandan Parliamentarian Santa Okot, a vocal member of the coalition, highlighted critical setbacks such as disrupted malaria programs, inconsistent implementation, and domestic funding shortfalls
“If the executive order in January has removed funding from malaria and our government does not step up and put money, add on to domestic revenue, then we shall go nowhere.”
The new coalition brings together lawmakers from across the continent, committed to eliminating malaria by 2030 through legislation, funding, and improved accountability.
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