UN world leaders warn that the resurgence of malaria could lead to the deaths of 337,000 individuals.

At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), heads of state and government have issued a grave warning about the critical need to boost funding for malaria prevention to avert a potential rise in new malaria cases and fatalities. They emphasize that neglecting this issue could lead to a resurgence of the disease within the next five years, resulting in an estimated 137.2 million additional cases and up to 337,000 deaths between 2027 and 2029.

This alert comes ahead of the Global Fund Replenishment scheduled for 2025, following new modeling by the Malaria Atlas Project. World leaders warn that even if current funding levels are maintained, a perfect storm of challenges could still lead to an additional 112 million cases and 280,000 deaths attributed to malaria.

This urgent plea for increased funding underscores the ongoing global health crisis posed by malaria and the critical necessity of sustained efforts to combat this deadly disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there are nearly 250 million malaria cases and over 600,000 deaths annually, with young children and impoverished nations being the most affected.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria is a primary funding source for the control and eradication of these diseases, primarily financed by governments. It consolidates global resources to combat AIDS, TB, and malaria, raising and allocating funds in three-year cycles known as Replenishments. According to the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, if malaria funding stagnates (with the Global Fund Replenishment achieving approximately $15.6 billion and maintaining current allocations), the world could see an additional 112 million malaria cases and up to 280,700 deaths over three years, particularly with surges occurring throughout Africa. The RBM Partnership warns that if resources are cut during the replenishment, the situation could deteriorate even further. A reduced replenishment of $11 billion, coupled with decreased malaria funding, could result in an estimated 137.2 million additional cases and 337,000 deaths.

Currently, there is a significant funding shortfall, with over $1.5 billion needed just to maintain services at 2023 levels. Given the new challenges, even this amount will not be sufficient to get the malaria fight back on track. These projections were presented by President Umaro Sissocco Embaló during a discussion titled “Confronting the Malaria Perfect Storm,” organized by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance. Leaders expressed concerns that without appropriate measures in this replenishment cycle, malaria could rapidly resurge.

Dr. Michael Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, stated, “The evidence clearly shows that without increased funding, we face a significant risk of malaria epidemics, particularly in high-burden areas that lack essential malaria prevention services. Unlike HIV and TB, malaria is predominantly found in lower-income countries, especially in Africa, which often struggle to afford necessary interventions. Everyone has a right to health, and malaria is putting immense pressure on health systems, hindering the ability of those in low-income countries to fully enjoy this right.”

While Dr. Charles acknowledged the complexities of allocating funds from the Global Fund Replenishment, he stressed that although all three diseases require urgent attention, malaria must receive increased funding to prevent a widespread resurgence. He warned, “If we fail to act, we can expect a spike in cases and increased mortality. Women and young children will be the most adversely affected, further pushing vulnerable populations into poverty and straining already fragile health systems, with global economic repercussions.”

The fight against malaria faces significant obstacles, including rising resistance to insecticides and anti-malarial drugs, making existing interventions less effective. Although highly effective tools like dual-insecticide mosquito nets are available to combat resistance, their deployment comes with increased costs. The combined effects of climate change and humanitarian crises have further heightened the risk for vulnerable populations.

These overlapping challenges underscore the urgent need for enhanced funding and innovative strategies to combat malaria effectively. The RBM Partnership to End Malaria serves as the largest global platform for coordinated action against malaria. Originally established as the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership in 1998, it mobilizes resources and forges consensus among partners to tackle this ongoing crisis.