Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Funding Shortages for Malaria Control
• The Current Funding Situation
• The Target Funding Needed to Meet WHO’s Malaria Strategy
III. Malaria Cases and Deaths
IV. Malaria Control Measures
• Spraying Insecticides
• Diagnostic Kits
• Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies
V. Challenges in Endemic Zones
VI. WHO’s Efforts in Malaria Control
VII. Conclusion
The global response to controlling malaria has been troubled by the shortage of funds at both national and international arena. According to WHO, an estimated US$ 2.7 billion was invested in malaria control and elimination efforts globally in 2016, versus the actual target of $6.5 billion required annually to meet the 2030 targets of WHO’s malaria strategy.
The affected countries pooled in US$ 800 million for the efforts and the single largest donor United States contributes US$1 billion annually. The rest of the funds come from United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, Germany, and Japan.In 2016, the total number of cases reported was 216 million, up from 211 million cases in 2015. Deaths due to malaria accounted 445 thousand from 446 thousand reported in the previous year. According to WHO, the rates of new cases had fallen and trend reversed in some regions but greater effort is required to implement measures to control malaria.
The African region remains the major benefactor of WHO efforts as 90% of all malaria cases and deaths worldwide occur in the African region. Spraying insecticides remains another effective way to combat mosquitoes and ultimately malaria. This method has proven to protect people, i.e. estimated 180 million suspected cases in 2010 to 100 million suspected cases in 2016. Diagnostic kits availability has however increased in the African region i.e. diagnosis rate has improved from 36% of suspected cases in 2010 to 87% in 2016. Artemisinin-based combination therapies are provided to patients suffering from malaria.
Conflicts in endemic zones pose additional challenges with the shortage of funds. Recent surveys have shown that only one in three children with fever are taken to a medical service provider in the public health sector.
Presently, WHO is supporting malaria responses in Nigeria South Sudan, Venezuela, and Yemen. In total, WHO supported the launch of mass antimalarial drug administration campaign that reached up to an estimated 1.2 million children aged under 5 years in targeted areas.