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According to the 2024 World Malaria Report, Nigeria remains at the forefront of the global malaria crisis, responsible for an estimated 40% of malaria cases and nearly half—46%—of malaria-related deaths in 2023 among the 10 High Burden to High Impact countries.
The report further warns that the High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) countries, including Nigeria, are unlikely to meet the ambitious goal of a 75 percent reduction in malaria cases and deaths by 2025.
With limited access to healthcare, compounded by ongoing conflicts and emergencies, these countries face significant challenges in making the necessary strides towards this target.
The malaria report is an essential tool each year, giving global stakeholders a clear picture of the ongoing efforts to combat the disease. This year’s report presents a comprehensive and timely update, detailing malaria control and elimination efforts in 83 countries, and underscoring the areas that require intensified focus.
Since the year 2000, global efforts have successfully averted an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria and prevented 12.7 million deaths. Despite these achievements, the disease remains a major health challenge, especially in the WHO African Region, where it continues to wreak havoc.
According to the latest data, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths worldwide in 2023.
This represents about 11 million more cases in 2023 compared to 2022, and nearly the same number of deaths.
Approximately 95 per cent of the deaths occurred in the WHO African region, where many at-risk still lack access to the services they need to prevent, detect and treat the disease.
Read also: WHO Certifies Egypt As Malaria-Free Nation After Research
The report read, “In 2023, Nigeria accounted for 40 per cent of estimated malaria cases and 46 per cent of estimated malaria deaths within the 10 HBHI countries, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounted for 20 per cent of estimated cases and 17 per cent of estimated malaria deaths within the same countries.
“Within the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, in 2023, Sudan accounted for 33 per cent of estimated malaria cases and 44 per cent of estimated deaths, although its overall contribution among the HBHI countries remains small (two per cent of total estimated cases).
“Malaria cases increased in 2020, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and remained high in 2022 and 2023. Factors such as population growth, conflicts and disasters may have disrupted health services and the effective implementation of intervention.”
