As the world prepares to mark World Malaria Day on April 25, 2025, under the theme "Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite," recent developments and challenges in the fight against malaria have come into sharp focus.
Despite significant progress in reducing malaria cases and deaths over the past few decades, global efforts to eliminate the disease have stalled in recent years. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that in 2023, there were an estimated 263 million new malaria cases and 597,000 malaria deaths globally, with the WHO African Region bearing the heaviest burden, accounting for 94% of malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths[4][5].
A key component in the renewed push against malaria is the deployment of malaria vaccines. The WHO has recommended the use of two malaria vaccines, RTS,S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M, for the prevention of *P. falciparum* malaria in children living in malaria-endemic areas. These vaccines have shown promising results, reducing malaria cases by more than half during the first year after vaccination and providing significant protection against severe malaria and all-cause mortality[2][4].
The RTS,S vaccine, which was first recommended by the WHO in October 2021, has already been rolled out in several countries and has substantially reduced malaria illness and deaths in young children. The R21 vaccine, recommended in 2023, has similar efficacy and is expected to have a high public health impact. Both vaccines are safe, efficacious, and highly cost-effective, especially when used as part of a comprehensive malaria control strategy[2][4].
As of early April 2025, 19 countries have introduced these vaccines sub-nationally as part of routine childhood vaccinations, with plans for further scale-up throughout the year. The global health community, including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has committed to making these vaccines more affordable, with many Gavi-supported countries paying as little as $0.20 per dose[4].
However, challenges persist. The COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts, ecological disasters, and climate change have disrupted malaria control efforts and shifted the geographic distribution and transmission patterns of the disease. Additionally, drug resistance in the malaria parasite and insecticide resistance in mosquitoes continue to pose significant threats to current control strategies[3][5].
To address these challenges, the WHO and its partners are emphasizing the need for increased investment in malaria control and elimination programs. The theme for World Malaria Day 2025, "Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite," calls for a re-energization of efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action. This includes advocating for increased funding, promoting innovative strategies, prioritizing country ownership, and engaging communities in health decision-making[5].
In a recent expert briefing hosted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, experts highlighted the critical role of innovation, community engagement, and sustained funding in the fight against malaria. They also discussed the importance of addressing health equity, gender equality, and human rights in malaria responses, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, infants, and children under five years of age[3].
As the global community marks World Malaria Day, the message is clear: with the right tools, strategies, and commitment, it is possible to end malaria and create a more equitable, safer, and prosperous future for all nations.
