The global toll of malaria
Approximately a million deaths a year
Malaria is one of the biggest killers in the world. WHO estimates that almost 250 million people each year become acutely ill from malaria – and approximately 1 million will die from the disease11. Malaria is preventable and treatable, but is a disease that stems from, and causes, poverty. Nine out of ten malaria deaths occur in Africa11 with children and pregnant women being most at risk11. Malaria kills approximately 700,000 children under five every year11 – the equivalent of one child every 30 seconds.12
The economic cost of malaria
IIn addition to the human cost of malaria, the economic burden of the disease is enormous. It is estimated that malaria causes an average loss of 1.3% of annual economic growth in countries with intense transmission12. Malaria affects productivity – adults with malaria cannot go to work and children with malaria cannot go to school. Malaria disproportionately affects poor people who cannot afford treatment or have limited access to health care. Up to 40% of African health budgets are spent on malaria each year12.
A child dies of malaria every 30 seconds12
