600,000 people die from malaria each year, 95% in Africa 0 4

Malaria remains a serious threat to global health, still causing hundreds of thousands of deaths, particularly among young children and pregnant women, especially in sub-Saharan African countries.

The emergence of drug resistance has become a significant barrier to controlling and eliminating the disease. This is warned by the World Health Organization (WHO), which in its latest annual report notes that over the past 25 years, 14 million lives have been saved worldwide, and 47 countries are currently certified as malaria-free.

However, in 2024, the number of malaria cases still exceeded 280 million, with more than 600,000 deaths, 95% of which occurred in Africa.

The study reports that eight countries have reported confirmed or suspected cases of resistance to antimalarial drugs. According to WHO, the risk of mass and uncontrolled resurgence of the disease is also real due to reduced funding, which negatively affects a region suffering from conflict, climate inequality, and unstable health systems.

In 2024, approximately $3.9 billion was invested in response measures, which is less than half of the target set by WHO.

Malaria remains preventable and treatable; however, the situation may worsen, says WHO, calling for enhanced epidemic surveillance and large-scale investments in the development of innovative next-generation drugs.