The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of an increase of 16 million cases of malaria in 2022 (249 million) compared to 2019 (233 million), and points to climate change as one of the causes of this increase.
Thus, despite progress in expanding access to insecticide-treated bed nets and medications to help prevent malaria in young children and pregnant women, more people are falling ill with malaria, according to its latest report on the disease. , presented this Thursday at a press conference.
In addition to the disruptions caused by Covid-19, the global malaria response has faced a growing number of threats, including drug and insecticide resistance, humanitarian crises, resource shortages, the effects of global warming, climate change and delays in program implementation, especially in countries with a high burden of the disease.
Specifically, the World Malaria Report 2023 delves into the link between climate change and malaria. Changes in temperature, humidity and precipitation can influence the behavior and survival of the 'Anopheles' mosquito, which carries malaria.
Extreme weather events, such as heat waves and floods, can also directly impact disease transmission and burden.. In fact, Pakistan's catastrophic floods in 2022, for example, increased malaria cases in the country five-fold.
“The changing climate poses a substantial risk to progress against malaria, especially in vulnerable regions. “Sustainable and resilient responses to malaria are needed now more than ever, along with urgent action to slow the pace of global warming and reduce its effects,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO.
Climate variability is expected to have indirect effects on malaria trends through, for example, reduced access to essential malaria services and disruptions in the supply chain of insecticide-treated nets, medicines and vaccines.
Climate-related population displacement can also lead to an increase in disease prevalence, as people without immunity migrate to endemic areas.
Data on the long-term impact of climate change on malaria transmission is scarce. However, the direction and magnitude of any impacts are likely to vary across social and ecological systems, both within and between countries.
Global Malaria Burden Trends and Response
Globally, there were five million more malaria cases in 2022 than the previous year, with five countries bearing the brunt of these increases. Pakistan recorded the largest increase, with nearly 2.6 million cases in 2022 compared to 500,000 in 2021.
Significant increases were also seen in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea and Uganda. Meanwhile, in the 11 countries that bear the highest malaria burden, rates of new infections and deaths have stabilized after an initial spike during the first year of the pandemic.. In these countries, which are supported through the WHO 'High Burden to High Impact' approach, there will be an estimated 167 million cases of malaria and 426,000 deaths in 2022.
Based on current trends, progress towards the critical 2025 milestones of the WHO global malaria strategy is “very far” from what was planned, according to the report.
“It is crucial to recognize the multitude of threats that hinder our response efforts. Climate variability poses a substantial risk, but we must also address challenges such as limited access to healthcare, ongoing conflicts and emergencies, the lingering effects of Covid-19 on service delivery, inadequate financing and implementation. of our core malaria interventions,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
“To move towards a malaria-free future, we need a concerted effort that fosters innovation, resource mobilization and collaborative strategies,” he noted.
The arrival of vaccines
However, the report also cites achievements, such as the gradual deployment of the first WHO-recommended malaria vaccine, 'RTS,S/AS01', in three African countries.
Rigorous evaluation has shown a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a 13 percent drop in early childhood deaths from all causes in areas where the vaccine has been administered compared to areas where it was not introduced.
This substantial reduction in illness and death adds to what is being achieved in these areas where mosquito nets, indoor insecticide spraying and other child health interventions have already been introduced.
Furthermore, in October this year, the WHO recommended a second safe and effective vaccine against the disease, 'R21/Matrix-M'.. The availability of two malaria vaccines is expected to increase supply and make a large-scale rollout possible across Africa.
In this sense, the director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, Daniel Ngamije, has stressed the importance of having more resources to fight the disease.. “We must remember that malaria remains a preventable and curable disease. It is true that we face many challenges, and climate change is one more. But opportunities are also coming to us. However, we need resources and commitment to turn these opportunities into actions,” he claimed.
Ngamije has taken advantage of the presentation of the report to emphasize the importance of “revitalizing” the fight against malaria and increasing coverage, access to services, and ensuring that in the near future countries “are back on the right track ” when it comes to global malaria targets.
The CEO of RBM Partnership to End Malaria, Michael Charles, has spoken in this same sense, calling for investing “drastically” because “there are shortcomings” in the fight against malaria.. “We have to be innovative, especially in the way we approach this disease. We cannot take an isolated approach,” he said.. Along these lines, he has called for “interacting” and the health integration of malaria with other existing diseases to “really strengthen health systems at the community level.”