Nigeria: Climate Change May Reverse Gains in Malaria Prevention – WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning that the progress made in malaria prevention could be undermined by climate change. Despite efforts to expand access to malaria prevention, the number of people falling ill with the disease is increasing.
According to the 2023 World Malaria Report released during the UN climate change conference, COP28, in Nigeria, there were 249 million new cases of malaria in 2022. This represents an increase of two million from the previous year and surpasses the pre-pandemic level of 233 million cases recorded in 2016.
The WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, attributed these numbers to various factors, including the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, humanitarian crises, drug and insecticide resistance, and the impacts of global warming.
Dr Tedros emphasized the substantial risk climate change poses to the progress against malaria, particularly in vulnerable regions. He called for immediate action to mitigate global warming and reduce its effects, while also stressing the need for sustainable and resilient malaria responses.
The WHO report highlighted a significant increase in malaria cases in Pakistan, where they observed a five-fold rise. The report explored the connection between climate change and malaria, noting how rising temperature, humidity, and rainfall contribute to behavioral changes and increased survival rates of the Anopheles mosquito.
Extreme weather events such as heatwaves and flooding can directly impact malaria transmission and the disease burden. For instance, the catastrophic flooding in Pakistan in 2022 resulted in a five-fold increase in malaria cases.
Similar significant increases in malaria cases were observed in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, and Uganda.
The WHO also mentioned that climate variability indirectly affects malaria trends by disrupting access to essential malaria services and the supply chain of insecticide-treated nets, medicines, and vaccines.
Population displacement caused by climate change can also lead to increased malaria cases as individuals without immunity migrate to areas where malaria is endemic.
While climate change poses a major risk, the WHO emphasized the need to address other threats as well. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, highlighted challenges such as limited healthcare access, ongoing conflicts, the lingering effects of COVID-19 on service delivery, inadequate funding, and uneven implementation of core malaria interventions.
Dr Moeti emphasized the importance of a concerted effort to tackle these diverse threats and called for innovation, resource mobilization, and collaborative strategies to achieve a malaria-free future.
The WHO report also recognized achievements in malaria prevention, including the phased roll-out of the first WHO-recommended malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01, in three African countries. The vaccine has shown significant reductions in severe malaria and a 13 percent drop in early childhood deaths in the areas where it has been administered.
To combat malaria effectively, the WHO called for a substantial shift in strategies with increased resources, stronger political commitment, data-driven approaches, and innovation aimed at developing more efficient, effective, and affordable products.
The WHO emphasized the urgent need for sustainable and resilient malaria responses that align with efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. It stressed the importance of whole-of-society engagement to build integrated approaches.
In conclusion, climate change poses a significant threat to the progress made in malaria prevention. Alongside addressing climate change, it is crucial to tackle various other challenges to combat malaria effectively and work towards a malaria-free future.
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