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Under those circumstances, the estimated tally of malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 would reach 769,000, twice the number of deaths reported in the region in 2018. This would represent a return to malaria mortality levels last seen 20 years ago.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Africa director, said: “While Covid-19 is a major health threat, it’s critical to maintain malaria prevention and treatment programs. The new modeling shows deaths could exceed 700,000 this year alone. We haven’t seen mortality levels like that in 20 years. We must not turn back the clock. ”
Countries with fragile health systems were facing “hard, at times impossible, choices” over health priorities, with the arrival of the new coronavirus, said Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, of the worldwide RBM partnership to end malaria.
“How to protect their citizens against this new threat and at the same time stave off existing killer diseases like malaria. We have a precious window in which to act before the arrival of peak malaria season in many parts of Africa and the further spread of Covid-19 across the continent, ”he said.
I’ve called on countries to carry on handing out insecticide treated nets, indoor praying campaigns and working on preventative measures for vulnerable groups like pregnant women.
“If we act now, we can save hundreds of thousands of lives, protect hard-fought progress, and minimize the impact on health systems, our first line of defense against existing and emerging threats to public health,” he said.
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