Malaria No More is making the business case for greater U.S. investment in malaria control. The global nonprofit, together with the Corporate Council on Africa, released a new report that highlights the economic payoff: “every dollar the U.S. invests in African malaria control returns $5.80 in economic growth — outperforming most Wall Street investments.”
“With $126.9 billion in untapped GDP waiting to be unlocked through malaria elimination, this represents one of the largest business opportunities hiding in plain sight. The choice for the U.S. is simple: lead this $4 trillion market transformation or watch competitors capture the returns,” notes the report, released to coincide with the 80th United Nations General Assembly high-level meetings.
Malaria isn’t only a health concern; it’s a major economic and strategic risk that drains U.S. resources, disrupts supply chains, and hampers Africa’s growth. The disease costs African economies about $12 billion each year, a “malaria tax” that directly impacts U.S. companies operating on the continent and triggers business disruptions that many firms fail to grasp, the report adds.
About the author
Rumbi Chakamba
Rumbi Chakamba is a Senior Editor at Devex based in Botswana, who has worked with regional and international publications including News Deeply, The Zambezian, Outriders Network, and Global Sisters Report. She holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of South Africa.
