Efforts to fight malaria in Africa have received a boost with a new partnership between the UK government and the global platform for coordinated action against the disease, RBM Partnership to End Malaria (RBM).
The £5 million initiative aims to end the epidemic by 2030 and targets high burden African countries including Cameroon, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.
The announcement of the new partnership on Wednesday, December 11, follows the launch of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s World Malaria Report 2024, which shows that malaria remains a serious global health challenge with a rise in cases in 2023.
Progress against malaria has stalled in recent years and the world is off track against the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target to end the epidemic of malaria by 2030.
The climate crisis is hindering efforts to end malaria as extreme weather events, such as flooding, increase the risk of outbreaks and warming temperatures change patterns of transmission. By integrating climate resilience strategies, the programme seeks to mitigate these risks.
“The UK is pleased to be partnering with the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, contributing £5 million to reenergise global efforts to tackle the epidemic. With the right tools, treatments and leadership, we can get back on track to end malaria, save lives and unlock billions in economic growth,” said UK Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds.
“Thanks to the expertise of British scientists and the efforts of partners across the world, we have shown that the malaria epidemic can be ended.
“But in the Global South too many are still losing their lives and livelihoods to the disease, with pregnant women and children especially vulnerable,” she said.
Tackling malaria will also help unlock growth in the Global South. Analysis shows reducing malaria cases by 90% by 2030 could boost GDP by over $142 billion in malaria-endemic countries.
British expertise in vaccine development is at the forefront of this fight. UK-backed research has led to the development of two malaria vaccines, with a third under testing at the University of Oxford. These breakthroughs have the potential to save millions of lives.
The UK’s partnership with RBM solidifies the Northwestern European monarchy as a key partner in global efforts to end malaria. The UK support to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria further consolidates its role. With UK support, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance are helping to roll out the new vaccines in up to 25 countries by 2025, including in Nigeria last week (on December 2).
