Progress Continues to Be Made in the Fight Against Malaria

Advances in the global fight against malaria continue. According to the World Malaria Report 2014, published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), there has been a 30% reduction in malaria cases worldwide and a 47% reduction in malaria deaths since the year 2000. This progress has been possible thanks to greater access to interventions and increased international funding, which totalled almost US$ 3000 million in 2013.

As Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO, recalls, these figures mean that the Millennium Development Goal 6 has been met, as 55 of the 97 countries with ongoing malaria transmission are on track to reducing their malaria case incidence by 75% with respect to 2000, which is in line with the target set for 2015.

One of the main achievements in 2013 was the expansion of pre-treatment diagnostic testing, a practice recommended by the WHO to minimise the risk of antimalarial drug resistance. Furthermore, access to insecticide-treated mosquito nets among the at-risk population in Africa (the most heavily affected continent) increased from 3% in 2004 to 49% in 2013. These nets are one of the main preventive measures against malaria.

Nevertheless, as Margaret Chan pointed out in this year's World Malaria Report, much remains to be done before malaria is eliminated. In 2013 alone, there were an estimated 198 million malaria cases and 584,000 deaths. Furthermore, deployment of interventions such as intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women, young children, and babies, has not been as widespread as was hoped for; the risk of resistance to antimalarials and insecticides is on the rise, which could lead to a renewed increase in malaria incidence; and while malaria funding has tripled since 2005, over US 2000 million dollars are still needed annually to meet international malaria control and elimination targets.