Nigeria remains at the epicentre of the global malaria crisis, accounting for 40 per cent of cases and 46 per cent of deaths across the ten High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) countries, according to the 2024 World Malaria Report.
The annual report, published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), casts doubt on whether the HBHI nations can meet the malaria Global Technical Strategy (GTS) target of reducing cases and deaths by 75 per cent by 2025. Persistent challenges, including limited healthcare access, ongoing conflicts, and humanitarian emergencies, are slowing progress.
Sobering Statistics
Globally, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths in 2023, an increase of 11 million cases from the previous year, though deaths remained largely unchanged. The WHO African Region bore the brunt of the crisis, with 95 per cent of global deaths occurring on the continent, leaving millions without access to essential prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services.
“In 2023, Nigeria accounted for 40 per cent of estimated malaria cases and 46 per cent of estimated deaths within the HBHI countries,” the report stated, adding that the Democratic Republic of the Congo contributed 20 per cent of cases and 17 per cent of deaths in the same category.
While the HBHI countries collectively struggle to rein in the disease, the situation is equally dire in other regions. In Sudan, for instance, malaria represented 33 per cent of cases and 44 per cent of deaths in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, exacerbated by conflict and fragile health systems.
Long-Term Impact and Missed Targets
The 2024 report offers both a stark warning and a measure of global progress. Since 2000, approximately 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million deaths have been averted through sustained intervention. However, these gains remain precarious.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted critical health services, causing malaria cases to spike in 2020 and remain elevated through 2023. Population growth, conflict, and natural disasters have further compounded the strain on healthcare systems, limiting the effective rollout of interventions in many high-burden countries.
The Path Forward
Experts warn that urgent action is needed to address the malaria burden in Nigeria and across Africa. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure, ensuring equitable access to preventive measures such as insecticide-treated nets, and scaling up diagnostic and treatment efforts are vital.
While progress in malaria elimination has slowed, the WHO emphasises that achieving the GTS goals remains possible with renewed global commitment and targeted investments. For Nigeria, this means prioritising the fight against malaria as a national health emergency to save lives and prevent the disease from undermining its development goals.
As the report highlights, malaria is more than just a health issue—it is a litmus test for global solidarity and the resilience of health systems in the face of persistent challenges.
