A World Without Malaria? It’s Possible.

Most people would agree that dying from a mosquito bite in the twenty-first century is an absolute tragedy. Yet, until recently this was largely accepted as an inevitable part of life in large parts of Africa and Asia.

Times are changing fast.

Such has been our progress in fighting malaria in the last decade that in the next few years the disease could be eliminated as a public health problem in most endemic countries. This is a realistic possibility if those countries keep expanding malaria prevention and treatment at the pace set in recent years.

The numbers tell a clear story. In 2000, malaria was a neglected disease. Today, at least 11 of the most endemic countries in Africa have shown a reduction of more than 50 percent in confirmed malaria cases or malaria admissions and deaths.

The Global Fund, which accounts for two-thirds of international malaria funding, has been at the heart of this progress. Since the Fund was created in 2002, its resources have enabled the distribution of more than 160 million insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria. Remarkably, 60 million of these were distributed in 2010 alone.

The massive increase in resources from the Global Fund and other sources over the last few years means that today there are enough nets to cover three-quarters of the African population at risk of malaria.

Nigeria is one country leading the way. Bolstered by Global Fund resources and a concerted effort by the government and other partners, half of the country’s states achieved universal access in bed net coverage by the end of 2010. The rest are expected to do so by the end of this year.

We are now at a critical inflection point. As the world catches its breath with the economic crisis, some donor countries are reducing their overseas development budgets. But if we are to realize our goal of eliminating malaria, the world must commit to finish what has been started. Now, more than ever, is the time to step up the fight against malaria so that no-one dies from that simple but deadly mosquito bite.

Professor Michel Kazatchkine is Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.