New Delhi, April 24 (IANS). A fight that has been going on for decades and now seems to be reaching a decisive point. World Malaria Day, celebrated on 25 April, this time is not just a day of awareness but a historic occasion, where science, strategy and global will stand together. Scientific progress taking place at an unprecedented pace has, for the first time, created confidence that it is possible to eradicate malaria within our lifetime.
New vaccines, effective treatments, modern control tools and advanced technologies like genetic modification of mosquitoes are rapidly moving in this direction. Innovations such as injections are also in development, while 25 countries are already protecting 10 million children every year through vaccines. On the malaria control front, next generation mosquito nets now account for 84 percent of distribution and national level programs are making a difference on the ground. This is the moment when hope seems stronger than ever.
It is against this background that the World Health Organization, along with its partners, committed to eliminate malaria: now we can. Now we have to do it. Launched the campaign, which is not just a slogan but a global call. It reminds the world that time is on our side, but decisive action is needed now. The successes achieved in the last two decades further strengthen this belief. Millions of cases and crores of deaths have been averted since 2000.
47 countries have been declared malaria-free, with new countries joining in recent years. The number of cases has fallen below thousands in many countries and the Greater Mekong subregion has proven that declines of about 90 percent can be achieved despite difficult conditions and drug resistance. Still, this picture is not entirely reassuring. The number of malaria-affected countries has declined between 2000 and 2024, and the number of countries with fewer cases has continued to increase, but the situation remains stagnant globally.
An estimated 282 million cases and 6 lakh 10 thousand deaths were recorded in 2024, marking a slight increase from the previous year. This is an indication that despite progress the danger has not gone away. The World Malaria Report 2025 further highlights that achievements are at risk and challenges are becoming complex.
Drug resistance is emerging as a serious concern, with partial resistance to artemisinin emerging in several countries in Africa and the threat of its spread. Mosquitoes’ resistance to pesticides is increasing. A severe shortage of financial resources, cuts in global health aid and circumstances such as climate change, conflict and humanitarian crises are making this fight more difficult.
Despite this, there are many bright points of hope. A new generation of more effective bed nets has expanded rapidly, vaccination campaigns are protecting millions of children, and seasonal and perennial chemical prevention programs have reached millions of children. Now more children than before are being tested on time and are receiving effective medicines, which is helping in reducing the death rate.
Strong leadership at the national level and formulation of strategies according to local needs are the foundation of this fight. Only stable and coordinated cooperation between global partners can ensure long-term success, while investment in research and innovation opens the way to meet new challenges. The most important role is of the communities, who will have to be empowered and made active participants in this campaign.
Today, when we have the resources, technology and knowledge, the question as to why someone dies from malaria becomes even more relevant. World Malaria Day 2026 keeps this thinking at the center, it is not just a day, but a decisive message that if we do not wake up now, this opportunity may be lost. But if we move forward unitedly, ending malaria can become a reality, not just a dream.
–IANS
PIM/AS
