WHO urges efforts to end malaria in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on all partners to intensify efforts to prevent a resurgence of malaria in Pakistan, emphasizing the need for coordinated and sustained action across all sectors.

On the occasion of World Malaria Day, the organization stressed that, for the first time, eliminating malaria within our lifetime is an achievable goal, provided countries strengthen surveillance, expand prevention measures, and ensure timely access to effective treatment.

In 2025, Pakistan reduced malaria incidence by 10% compared to 2024, but it still reported 1.8 million cases, as the country has not yet recovered from the surge triggered by the 2022 climate-driven floods – from 399,097 confirmed infections in 2021 to a peak of 2.7 million in 2023.

Progress is at risk due to factors such as climate change, a massive global funding gap of $5.4 billion and recent cuts in global health aid, which have disrupted health systems, surveillance, and campaigns, demonstrating how quickly hard-fought gains can be reversed.

As part of World Malaria Day celebrations, WHO and partners have launched a global campaign to seize the opportunity to protect lives now and fund a malaria-free future, under the theme "Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must."