Malaria Hasn’t Gone Anywhere

Malaria deaths resulting from disruption of services will likely exceed the number of COVID-19 deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the WHO’s World Malaria Report 2020, Devdiscourse reports.
 
Despite the pandemic's impact this year, the last 2 decades have seen remarkable progress.
 
Since 2000:

• 1.5 billion malaria cases and 7.6 million deaths have been averted.

• The WHO Africa Region, which shoulders 90% of the global burden, has reduced its malaria death toll by 44%.

 
But:

• Malaria still kills 400,000 people each year; two thirds are children under 5.

• Estimated global cases have hovered around 229 million for the past 4 years.

 
The report calls on countries to re-energize stagnating commitments to beating malaria as the world remains “transfixed” by COVID-19, said Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund.