Why End Malaria?

Malaria is one of the oldest and deadliest diseases, devastating families, communities, and countries around the world. Yet, we have the tools to be the generation to end malaria for good.

Ending malaria leads to healthier wealthier communities

In 2023, nearly half of the world’s population was at risk of malaria. Of the estimated 263 million cases of malaria worldwide, 94% of them were in Africa.

  • Malaria accounts for half of the burden on the health system in many malaria-endemic countries. Eliminating malaria would functionally double health capacity in much of sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Half of all missed school days in Africa are due to malaria. Healthy children can go to school and learn more effectively, ultimately impacting their ability to earn a living.
  • Keeping children healthy enables parents to go to work and reduce the need to spend their wages on malaria treatments and health care.

ENDING MALARIA STIMULATES ECONOMIES

By sustaining investments in malaria prevention and treatment, we can unlock economic growth and human potential.

  • Malaria-free countries have 5x greater economic growth than countries with malaria.
  • Reducing malaria cases by 90% by 2030 could increase Africa’s GDP by $126 billion – or $16 billion per year and could increase international trade by $80.7 billion.

Ending Malaria Helps Keep Us Safer

Malaria research is developing next generation tools and strategies to help fight Zika, dengue, and other mosquito-borne diseases and to prevent epidemics.

  • Surveillance and response systems can identify and track transmission of other fast-moving infectious diseases.
  • Rapid diagnostics and better treatments address the growing threat of resistance to anti-malarial drugs and insecticides.
  • Health care workers trained to diagnose and treat malaria also fight other febrile diseases and can respond quickly to an emerging epidemic.

What Will it Take to End Malaria?