'Malaria ends with us'

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OPINION

By Richard Linga

As the world marks World Malaria Day 2025, global health leaders emphasise the urgent need to accelerate progress toward malaria elimination under the theme "Malaria Ends With Us." Despite significant strides, malaria remains a deadly threat, claiming nearly 600,000 lives in 2023 alone - a stark reminder that complacency is not an option.

Malaria remains one of Uganda’s most pressing public health challenges, accounting for nearly 30% of outpatient visits and 20% of hospital deaths, with children under five and pregnant women disproportionately affected. Despite progress, including distributing millions of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and expanding malaria chemoprevention, the country faces setbacks due to rising insecticide resistance, climate-related transmission shifts, and funding gaps.

Recent reports confirm partial artemisinin resistance in Uganda, threatening the efficacy of first-line treatments. However, with accelerated investment in next-generation tools, strengthened health systems, and full Global Fund replenishment, Uganda can turn the tide, ensuring malaria truly "ends with us."

Over the past two decades, global efforts have averted 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million deaths, with 80% of cases and 94% of deaths prevented in Africa. Yet, rising threats - drug and insecticide resistance, climate change, and funding gaps - are undermining progress. In 2023, malaria cases surged to 263 million, up from 226 million in 2015, while deaths climbed to 597,000.

Community engagement in Lwazi village. (Credit: Raziah Athman)

Mosquito larvae collections in Lwazi village. (Credit: Raziah Athman)

Key challenges include funding shortfalls, with only $4b invested in 2023, which was half the $8.3b target. US budget cuts resulted in disruptions in mosquito net distributions, diagnostic tests, and treatment stocks across Africa. Artemisinin-resistant malaria is spreading in East Africa, while pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes threaten insecticide-based interventions.

To reverse these trends, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners urge governments and donors to help close the $4.3b annual gap. Global Fund & Gavi replenishments are critical for sustaining malaria vaccines, bed nets, and treatments. A 90% reduction in malaria by 2030 could add $142.7b to endemic countries’ GDPs, so reinvesting in the fight against malaria now will have positive outcomes in the near future. 

Mosquito larvae under a microscope. (Credit: Raziah Athman)

Innovative tools are also needed. Scientists around the world must accelerate research into new solutions, including next-gen vaccines (now in 18 African countries) and climate-resilient strategies. Target Malaria is actively investigating gene drive technology that may be able to significantly reduce malaria-carrying mosquito populations in nature.

Consultation with regulatory authority, responsible science and stakeholder engagement at every step of the scientific development process ensures this technology may, in the future, be safe and efficient to use as a vector control tool. Several studies are being conducted across Africa to increase our knowledge of malaria mosquitoes and collect key entomological data. 

To reignite the fight against malaria, African leaders’ Yaoundé Declaration (2024) pledged to end preventable malaria deaths. Leaders need to continue driving the fight and taking it down to the grassroots, with appropriate education and budget allocation. Community engagement should empower at-risk groups, including pregnant women and children, with prevention and treatment.

“Ending malaria isn’t just a health goal—it’s an investment in a fairer, safer, and more prosperous world,” says WHO. With 45 countries already malaria-free, the blueprint exists. Now, scaled-up funding, innovation, and global solidarity must converge to ensure the fight continues with all available weapons blazing. In Uganda, we must play our part as the government, organisations, businesses, and individuals to ensure Malaria Ends With Us.

The writer is the Communications Officer, Target Malaria / UVRI