Malaria deaths reduced by 38 percent since 2000, says new report

Tremendous progress has been made in the fight against malaria and reaching the goal of zero malaria deaths is back in sight. The Roll Back Malaria Partnership released a report highlighting a decade of progress in malaria control since the Partnership’s formation. Globally, malaria deaths have been reduced by an estimated 38 percent with 10 African countries and Zanzibar cutting malaria cases and deaths by 50 percent or more since 2000. More than 400 million long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets had been delivered to African countries by end of 2010, enough to cover nearly 80 percent of people at risk of malaria in the whole of Africa. These efforts are paying off: in sub-Saharan Africa alone, the lives of 1.1 million children under five have been saved.

With more endemic countries reaching universal coverage and reducing malaria deaths, the Partnership has refined its goals, making them more ambitious and taking into account the challenges they face moving forward. The Partnership has updated three new primary objectives for the Global Malaria Action Plan by 2015 include reducing global malaria deaths to near zero, reducing global malaria cases by 75 percent (from 2000 levels), and eliminating malaria in 10 new countries (since 2008) and in the WHO European Region. In the first decade, the Partnership has led and contributed to major changes in malaria control, including new policies and systems for bed nets, indoor residual spraying, prevention in pregnancy, and diagnosis and treatment; and systems for monitoring program action and progress.

Nevertheless, progress in malaria control is fragile and incomplete. Malaria remains a global problem that threatens nearly 3 billion people and accounts for 16 percent of child deaths in Africa. Moving forward, renewed and continued commitment for malaria control is necessary to preserve gains. Incorporating a range of new tools, including a possible malaria vaccine, will be critical as threats including growing insecticide resistance and waning funding for public health emerge.