April 25 is World Malaria Day – a moment to pause and reflect on one of the deadliest diseases in human history, which continues to impact millions of lives every year. Today, it is estimated that malaria claims one life every minute, with most deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. The WHO African region continues to shoulder the heaviest malaria burden worldwide, with 94% of all malaria cases and 95% of deaths recorded on the continent. Beyond its huge impact on health, malaria also undermines economic growth, deepens poverty, and perpetuates inequality.
Nearly two-thirds of global malaria cases and deaths are concentrated in 11 African countries, which include Mali, where I live and work. Mali suffers a disproportionately high malaria burden, accounting for 3.1% of global malaria cases and 2.4% of global malaria deaths. Behind these statistics are children who miss school, families who struggle with medical costs, and communities that carry the weight of this devastating disease.
This year’s World Malaria Day campaign, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria under the theme “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, resonates deeply. Over the past decades, we have seen the impact of sustained action against malaria – but that progress is now at risk. Malaria parasites are developing resistance to antimalarial drugs, threatening the effectiveness of treatments. Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to commonly used insecticides, reducing the impact of primary vector control interventions. Climate change is altering mosquito habitats and transmission patterns, compounding these challenges. Meanwhile, funding shortfalls are putting pressure on already fragile systems. As the WHO warns, “further progress and decades of hard-won gains are in jeopardy.”
Innovative strategies and tools are needed to complement existing interventions and help us accelerate progress towards malaria elimination. At ACEME, we aim to empower African scientists with the skills and expertise needed to lead the fight against vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, which so heavily affect our continent. We are working to set up a platform where researchers can build their expertise in molecular engineering and contribute to the development of innovative tools to control disease-carrying mosquitoes.
This year for World Malaria Day, our team at ACEME is taking part in a campaign led by the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research under the theme “Reimagining the fight against malaria”. The campaign aims to spotlight innovations that could transform the fight against malaria and raise awareness of ongoing challenges threatening progress against the disease.
Now is the time to recommit to the fight against malaria. The growing momentum across the continent is encouraging. More countries are prioritizing malaria elimination. A key milestone achieved last year was the Yaoundé Declaration, signed by 11 high-burden African countries. Their message was clear: “no one should die from malaria”.
As the WHO reminds us, “Ending malaria is not just a health imperative; it is an investment in a more equitable, safer and prosperous future for every nation.” On World Malaria Day, let’s recommit to that future. Let’s reinvest, reimagine, and reignite – so that malaria ends with us.
