Today, Rhema Care, a faith-based organization with a vision of creating an equitable and inclusive society, is joining other stakeholders to raise awareness about Malaria in Africa. The 2024 awareness campaign is of great importance to Rhema Care, as the burden of malaria in Africa, particularly Nigeria, is alarming. There is no better time to lend once voice to the fight against malaria in Africa than now.
World Malaria Day 2024
The 2024 World Malaria is another opportunity to raise the awareness of malaria to African continent, and Nigeria in particular. The theme is “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”
This theme is so apt as it concerns Nigeria in particular, because malaria is a major public health concern in Nigeria, with an estimated 68 million cases and 194 000 deaths due to the disease in 2021. Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria globally, accounting for nearly 27% of the global malaria burden.
• 608,000 malaria deaths in 2022
• 249 million new cases of malaria in 2022
• 94% of all malaria cases are in WHO African Regio
• Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria globally
These staggering statistics from WHO need not to be treated with levity. Instead, it calls for a more innovative and strategic effort to turn the tides. Over the past few years, the progress achieved in reducing malaria has reached an impasse. This disease not only poses a direct threat to public health and has resulted in numerous fatalities, but it also perpetuates a vicious cycle of inequity. Individuals residing in vulnerable situations, including pregnant women, infants, children under five years of age, refugees, migrants, internally displaced people, and Indigenous Peoples, continue to be disproportionately impacted.
Alarming statistics of malaria
According to WHO African Region bears the heaviest burden of this disease, in 2022. The recorded 94% and 95% of malaria cases and deaths. The most affected populations in this region are rural communities living in poverty and with limited access to education. It is unfortunate that, if the current trend persists, the critical 2025 milestones of the WHO global malaria strategy for reductions in malaria cases and deaths will not be met. It is puzzling why pregnant women, young children, and other vulnerable groups are not accessing the malaria services they need.
We can do something!
Rhema Care is issuing a challenge to all stakeholders on World Malaria Day 2024. The challenge is to work together and call for a national discussion to find more inclusive and innovative ways to tackle malaria before it becomes a pandemic. It is also necessary to review the existing policies, frameworks, action plans, and budgets to reflect the current realities. With this review, an actionable and realistic plan can be developed to reduce the number of deaths and the alarming statistics that we are currently facing.
Chima Jeff Megwei
Monitoring & Reporting Officer
Rhema Care International
