The World Health Organisation's 2022 World Malaria Report highlights continued efforts and resilience of countries has meant deaths and cases have largely stabilised. While malaria cases continued to rise between 2020 and 2021, the number of global malaria deaths fell slightly. This is still a total of 619 000 lives lost to this preventable and treatable disease in 2021.
"A child continues to die from malaria every minute. "
The fight against malaria remains precarious – especially on the African continent, which continues to carry the heaviest burden of malaria, accounting for 95% of all global malaria cases and 96% of global deaths from the disease.
Malaria is stealing our future. Children in Africa continue to be the most at risk from malaria. The World Malaria Report 2022 shows children under 5 in Africa are the most at risk, making up almost 80% of malaria deaths, with around 468 000 African children under 5 losing their lives to this deadly disease in 2021.
More countries than ever are within reach of elimination, but every country should be able to benefit from zero malaria. We must act now to create a fairer future that leaves no one behind.
We are the generation that will end malaria!