Washington, DC, December 8, 2022 – Malaria No More CEO Martin Edlund issued the following statement on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2022 World Malaria Report:
For a second year in a row, the WHO’s World Malaria Report shows a troubling uptick in malaria cases, with 247 million cases in 2021 alone. But through extraordinary US-supported efforts, 2 billion cases of malaria have been averted since 2000, and 11.7 million lives have been saved— including almost 1 million lives in 2021.
Along with COVID-19 causing major disruptions to health systems and straining health budgets throughout 2020 and 2021, the malaria fight also faced a range of other challenges, including rising antimalarial drug resistance, global supply chain disruptions, severe weather events, and other health emergencies.
It’s encouraging that malaria testing & treatment was re-established after initial COVID disruptions and net distributions have been maintained to stabilize malaria control efforts. And with new tools and technologies in the pipeline, there could be tremendous progress toward eradication in the coming years.
We know that malaria control remains the most cost-effective way to save lives and improve livelihoods for vulnerable communities across the globe – so now is the moment to redouble US leadership and global efforts. We urge the Biden Administration and our Champions in Congress to continue increasing our investments in the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and to ensure we follow through on our pledge to fund the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis, and Malaria at $2B a year for the next 3 years, programs that have demonstrated effectiveness and a strong return on investment in our shared global health. These are the critical programs that will ensure that, one day, no child will die from a mosquito bite.
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For more information or interview requests, please contact Mindy Mizell at mindy.mizell@malarianomore.org or 202-355-3690 (cell).
About Malaria No More
Malaria No More envisions a world where no one dies from a mosquito bite. Fifteen years into our mission, our work has contributed to historic progress toward this goal. Now, we’re mobilizing the political commitment, funding, and innovation required to achieve what would be one of the greatest humanitarian accomplishments – ending malaria within our generation. For more information, visit www.malarianomore.org.
