Opinion: Eliminating malaria is an economic rocket for Africa and the US

Few people in wealthy nations think about malaria, and for good reason. The mosquito-borne disease was eliminated in countries such as the United States nearly 75 years ago and has since been eliminated in many other countries, representing a significant victory over a disease that has historically brought down armies, devastated economies, and claimed millions of young lives. However, it is coming back: The U.S., for example, has cases of locally acquired malaria for the first time in decades. Since the beginning of the new millennium, Africa has made its own remarkable strides against malaria, with a 34% reduction in incidence and a 61% decrease in related mortalities. As a result, millions of lives have been saved and countless malaria cases prevented, demonstrating the value of investments in malaria interventions during this period. Completely eliminating malaria in Africa would yield benefits that reverberate throughout the continent and prevent reintroduction in other regions. Freed of the debilitating effects of the disease, parents become more productive, children stay in school longer, and overstretched health systems stabilize. Yet, despite this hopeful outlook, we fear the pendulum could swing the other way if we abandon decades of progress at this watershed moment, especially now that the continent is experiencing a stall in progress toward incidence and mortality reduction targets on account of multiple factors, termed malaria’s “perfect storm.” According to the African Leaders Malaria Alliance’s 2024 Africa Malaria Progress Report, among these contributing factors is a continued shortfall in global funding. Central to the fight against malaria since the 1950s, the U.S. is today the largest donor government to global malaria control efforts. Through initiatives such as the President’s Malaria Initiative, the U.S. reaches approximately 30 countries and is also the largest contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the largest overall funder of malaria efforts in the world. If the U.S. government’s sudden cessation of funding continues, it would leave significant gaps in malaria programs in those PMI-supported African countries, resulting in a devastating human cost. The Malaria Atlas Project estimates that the planned 2025 PMI support could prevent 14.9 million malaria cases and 107,000 deaths, with the vast majority of these deaths occurring in the most vulnerable age group for this preventable, treatable disease — children under 5 years of age. In many ways, this funding is not merely humanitarian assistance; it is an economic and social investment in African stability that aligns strongly with the benchmark of helping make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. A malaria-free Africa can drive economic growth for both the U.S. and the world. In fact, a recent Oxford Economics report reveals that cutting malaria by 90% by 2030 could generate an extra $126.9 billion in gross domestic product for malaria-endemic countries in Africa, while countries in the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations, including the U.S., would see exports rise by nearly $4 billion. This demonstrates how investment in lives is also an investment in mutual economic benefits. Furthermore, Africa is the youngest continent on the planet, with 60% of our population under the age of 25. Creating a future where this generation can find health and prosperity aligns with American interests in increasing trade opportunities, reducing migration, and removing footholds for radicalism. We already have seen that elimination of malaria is possible with adequate investments, political will, and community engagement. Since 2019, Algeria, Cape Verde, and Egypt have been certified as malaria-free, while Botswana, Comoros, Eswatini, São Tomé and Príncipe, and South Africa are firmly on the path to elimination. We believe continued investment through PMI and the Global Fund should serve as a catalyst for spurring other funding sources to finish the fight against malaria. In fact, leveraging U.S. funding to encourage other public and private sector funders in Britain, the European Union, and elsewhere to increase their support to combat malaria is a move we welcome because it pushes all of us to contribute to a shared ambition. “Ending malaria in Africa is a health priority that will deliver enduring economic, social, and moral dividends to the whole world, including the U.S.” --— For its part, Africa is stepping up its own efforts in scaling up innovative financing through multisectoral sources, such as the End Malaria Councils and Funds, which have to date raised over $125 million primarily through private sector investment. Other avenues that Africa will tap include the World Bank’s International Development Association funding, as well as domestic government budgets, debt swaps, and blended financing, to ensure that our national programs are fully equipped to drive the malaria elimination agenda forward. Unfortunately, malaria is a disease of poverty and is concentrated in low-income countries, limiting the resources available to tackle this disease using domestic resources alone. It is most encouraging that the pipeline of innovations to address malaria has never been stronger. Last year marked the rollout of the first two malaria vaccines, as well as highly impactful new mosquito nets treated with dual insecticides, joining a range of proven interventions that promise to accelerate malaria elimination but also drive economic growth. To fuel malaria elimination investments further, African member states are ratifying the African Medicines Agency treaty to ensure that the people of Africa have access to essential therapeutics and technologies. If we fail to act now, we may never come close to eliminating one of humanity’s deadliest diseases. The continuation of vital support from development partners, including the U.S., is imperative. With this commitment, we can marshal political focus and increased domestic financing among African nations to fully support malaria control efforts. The private sector’s technical and funding partners must step up their contributions to accelerate the deployment of innovative and community-driven solutions, strengthen data access and us,e and ensure high intervention coverage across all affected regions. Ending malaria in Africa is a health priority that will deliver enduring economic, social, and moral dividends to the whole world, including the U.S. and other nations who stand with us. Only together can we achieve this historic victory.