Malaria is a life-threatening disease that put nearly half of the world’s population at risk in the year 2019 with most cases and deaths from malaria occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Population groups such as infants, children under 5 years of age and pregnant women are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria.

There have been more than 1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic in the WHO African Region that carries more than 90% of the global malaria burden. COVID-19 poses a great threat of disruption on delivery of malaria preventive therapies and other core interventions, portending serious consequences for diseases such as malaria.

Moreso, a modelling analysis from WHO and partner in year 2020, found that the number of malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa could double in the year alone if there are severe disruptions in access to insecticide-treated nets and antimalarial medicines due to COVID-19. These projections reinforce the critical importance of sustaining efforts to prevent, detect and treat malaria during the pandemic.