Millions of lives at risk as malaria progress threatened by funding cuts
Seven month old Queensly Harriet receives her second dose of the Malaria Vaccine at Ndhiwa Sub-County Hospital in Homa Bay County on April 16, 2021. PHOTO| Francis Nderitu
What you need to know:
- Of the 64 malaria-endemic countries surveyed, Kenya included, more than half have reported moderate or severe disruptions to malaria services.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the 2025 funding cuts to malaria programs could put millions of additional lives at risk and potentially reverse decades of progress in the fight against the disease.
In a statement released on Thursday, the health agency emphasised that despite the reinstatement of funding for some US--supported malaria programs, critical gaps remain in global malaria prevention efforts.
"Without the rapid delivery of prevention and treatment services to at-risk populations, the consequences could be fatal," cautioned Dr Daniel Ngamije, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Program.
Dr Ngamije further highlighted that the impact of these disruptions is already being felt throughout the health sector. "Of the 108 WHO country offices that took part in a rapid stock take, nearly three-quarters reported disruptions to health services following the pause in overseas development assistance (ODA)," he stated.
The budget cuts have already affected responses to malaria, increased out-of-pocket payments for patients, with the poor and vulnerable likely to carry the heaviest financial burden, as well as disrupted information systems and supply of medicines and health products.
“Of the 64 malaria-endemic countries surveyed, Kenya included, more than half reported moderate or severe disruptions to malaria services."
Insecticide-treated nets (ITNS) have been a cornerstone of malaria prevention efforts in Africa over the past two decades. By early April 2025, more than 40 per cent of planned ITN distribution campaigns designed to reach 425 million people were either delayed or at risk of being derailed, according to data provided by national malaria programs.
Nearly 30 per cent of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaigns to protect 58 million children were also off track. In many African countries, stocks of rapid diagnostic tests and medicines have reached critically low levels.
He adds: “Reductions in funding also threaten to undermine critical investments in scientific innovation, including in new and improved preventive, diagnostic and treatment interventions, as well as in new tools to address drug and insecticide resistance.
“We must not allow funding setbacks to derail the global malaria agenda,” noted Dr Jérôme Salomon, WHO assistant director-general. “We urge all stakeholders to sustain their commitments, safeguard national plans, and coordinate adaptation strategies in response to the shifting funding landscape.”
The recent experience of the Covid-19 pandemic showed that sudden interruptions to malaria service delivery can be deadly. In 2020, Covid-related disruptions to the provision of malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment led to an estimated 14 million more malaria cases and an additional 47,000 deaths.
“History has shown us what happens if we let down our guard against malaria,” cautions Dr Ngamije.
“In 1969, the global eradication effort was abandoned, triggering a resurgence in cases and deaths. It took nearly 30 years for world leaders to come together and restore momentum.”
Since 2000, investments in the global malaria response have prevented more than two billion cases and nearly 13 million deaths, according to WHO data. However, efforts to control and eliminate malaria are in jeopardy as communities and programmes face the wrath of the recent funding cuts.
Defeat malaria
A review of the World Malaria Report 2022 found that countries and partners have only mobilised about 50 per cent of the estimated $7.3 billion needed globally to stay on track to defeat malaria. This shortfall threatens the sustainability of critical malaria interventions, particularly vector control.
"Beyond closing the immediate gap, we must work to fully secure the resources needed to end malaria once and for all,” said the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA).
The consequences of inadequate funding could be devastating. The 2023 Africa Malaria Progress Report warns that unless urgent action is taken, there could be a resurgence in malaria cases and deaths, particularly among vulnerable populations.
"We face a budget gap of at least $1.5 billion just to maintain basic malaria services, especially vector control. Without increased effort and investment, malaria incidence and mortality could rise significantly by 2030, threatening to reverse decades of progress," says the report by ALMA.
Malaria is preventable and curable – but without prompt diagnosis and treatment, it can rapidly escalate to severe illness and death, particularly among young children and pregnant women.
In 2023 alone, malaria claimed nearly 600,000 lives. Africa was home to 94 per cent of malaria cases (246 million) and 95 per cent (569,000) of malaria deaths.
In Kenya, the number of malaria cases has tremendously reduced from over five million last year to 3.8 million over the last 16 months, the latest data from the Ministry of Health shows.
Kenya has eight malaria endemic areas - Homa Bay, Kisumu, Migori, Siaya, Busia, Bungoma, Vihiga, and Kakamega.
