Birungi advocates for more funding towards Malaria fight

Krystal Birungi, a field entomologist from Uganda continues to drum up for funding towards malaria fight saying, it remains one of the leading causes of death on the African continent, which bears the heaviest burden of the disease. Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO) report of 2024, Birungi noted that Africa accounted for an estimated 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of malaria-related deaths in the previous year 2023.

In December, Birungi visited the House of Commons to call for increased funding to combat the disease, which claims the life of one child every minute in Africa. “In 2023, the number of deaths was estimated at 597,000 globally. In Africa, where most of the cases and registered deaths occur, 76% of lethal cases were among children aged under 5 years,” she remarked.

She further expressed worries that although there have been breakthroughs, such as the WHO-recommended malaria vaccine, which 17 countries have introduced through childhood immunisation programmes, figures indicate that malaria will not be eliminated by the earlier anticipated year 2030.

“That is not to say that what we’ve done so far has been futile. Far from it – since 2000, malaria control efforts have helped avert 2.2 billion cases and 12.7 million deaths worldwide. In 2023 alone, more than 177 million cases and 1 million deaths were estimated to have been averted globally. 80% of averted cases and 94% of averted deaths were in the WHO African Region, highlighting the huge gains we make from targeted policy and investment in this region,” Birungi stated.

The entomologist avers that many countries with a low burden of malaria, such as Rwanda and Liberia in the WHO Afro region, continue to move steadily towards the goal of elimination. Pointing out Rwanda and Liberia, she noted that the two countries demonstrated impressive reductions in malaria cases, with an 85% decrease in Rwanda since 2019 and a 44% decrease in Liberia since 2017.

However, many challenges such as funding gaps, poverty, climate change, humanitarian emergencies such as conflicts, and lack of access to essential health services jeopardise the progress already made.

Meanwhile, Birungi expressed optimism that Although the findings from this year’s report lay bare the heavy burden of malaria in Africa, they also paint a hopeful picture around the opportunities to accelerate progress. “With the right investment, research and development, community engagement and political will, it is possible to reverse the trends and accelerate progress towards malaria elimination,” she noted.

Malaria case in Uganda

“As someone who has experienced malaria firsthand, I wanted to share my personal story of growing up in Uganda, a malaria-endemic country, to stakeholders in the UK. Malaria remains a leading cause of death and illness in Uganda, responsible for 14% of all hospital deaths, 25% of hospital admissions, and up to 40% of outpatient visits.”

“It disproportionately affects the poorest, least educated, and most vulnerable – especially children, pregnant women, adolescent girls, and those in remote areas,” expressed Birungi, who is also the spokesperson for Target Malaria– a not-for-profit research consortium that aims to develop and share new, cost-effective and sustainable genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission.

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Julius Luwemba

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