World Malaria Day, celebrated annually on 25 April, serves as a platform to highlight the continued need for sustained investment and unwavering political commitment to malaria prevention and control.
The theme for 2023 set by the World Health Organization is “Time for Zero Malaria Transmission: Investment, Innovation, Implementation”, calling for action on several fronts.
Despite significant progress over the past two decades, there is still a great deal of work ahead. In 2000, there were 108 endemic countries in the world, which has decreased to 84 as of 2021. However, about half of the world’s population is still considered “at risk” of malaria.
The estimated number of malaria deaths in 2021 was 619,000, down from 897,000 in 2000, underscoring the urgency of continued efforts.