Every year in early December, when most people are joyfully putting up their holiday décor, we are anxiously awaiting one thing: the release of the World Malaria Report, an annual catalogue by the World Health Organization of the latest results in the fight against malaria. This year’s report is evidence of the exceptional progress that has been made against the malaria since 2000. Here are five key highlights from this year’s report which came out today:
1. Efforts to reduce and eliminate malaria are saving lives!
An estimated 670 million fewer malaria cases and 4.3 million fewer malaria deaths occurred between 2001 and 2013. Children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 3.9 million (92%) of these averted deaths.
Between 2000 and 2013 malaria mortality rates decreased by 47% globally, and by 54% in sub-Saharan Africa, the region most affected by the disease.
2. A record number of bednets were distributed and used in the last two years.
By the end of 2014, 214 million nets are projected to be delivered to families in sub-Saharan Africa; this is the highest number of nets delivered in a single year - EVER.
While this progress is impressive, almost 300 million bednets are needed per year. An estimated 278 million people in Africa still live in households without a single insecticide-treated net. In the coming years, more nets will be needed to cover this gap and to replace those which reach the end of their effective lifespans of three years or less.
In 2013, nearly half (49%) of the population at risk for malaria had access to a net compared to 3% in 2004. Ninety percent of people used the nets available to them.
3. We are reducing and eliminating malaria transmission in several countries.
It’s exciting to see that the malaria target under the United Nations Millennium Development Goal 6 has been met, and 55 countries are on track to reduce their malaria burden by 75 percent.
In 2000, there were 106 countries where malaria was transmitted; now there are 97. It is also promising to see that, despite a large growth of populations, the number of malaria infections at any one time across Africa fell from 173 million in 2000 to 128 million in 2013 – a 26% decrease.
4. Despite progress, malaria remains a major global health threat.
According to the latest estimates, there were 198 million cases of malaria, resulting in 584,000 deaths globally in 2013. The burden is still greatest in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 90% of all malaria deaths occur, and in children aged under 5 years, who account for 78% (430,000) of all deaths.
5. Increased political and financial commitments to fight against malaria are essential if we want to see continued progress.
In 2013, the annual funds available for malaria control and elimination (US$ 2.7 billion) was far less than what is required (an estimated US$ 5.1 billion) to protect everyone at risk and achieve global targets for malaria control and elimination. This 2.4 billion dollar gap, is less than the amount that Americans spend on Halloween candy each year. In fact, if every American donated $10 each year, it would completely fill the gap in malaria funding.
Since 2006, Nothing But Nets has worked closely with its UN partners to deliver more than 7.5 million nets to families across 29 African countries. And our partners and supporters across the United States are advocating for malaria funding support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the President’s Malaria Initiative. This funding should not be taken for granted – Congress needs to know that you stand behind the fight against malaria.
Share this report with your friends and tell them you support the fight to #endmalaria.
© NOTHING BUT NETS 2017 • SAVE LIVES. DEFEAT MALARIA
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