COVID-19 and Malaria

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic places an extra burden on health systems worldwide, and especially in countries with fragile health systems. Many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa which accounts for more than 90% of global malaria cases and deaths, are facing a double challenge of protecting their citizens against existing threats to public health, like malaria and emerging ones like COVID-19.

The RBM Partnership to End Malaria is working to ensure that efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 do not compromise access to malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment services, which are saving almost 600,000 lives and preventing nearly 100 million infections each year.

The RBM Partnership stands ready to support affected countries to protect and advance progress made against malaria alongside the COVID-19 efforts. We furthermore call on all countries and partners to uphold progress and commitments made in the global fight to end malaria.

Our priorities are:

• Protect those most vulnerable – pregnant women and children under five in malaria affected countries – with life-saving malaria tools and prioritize safe delivery of these essential interventions.

• Invest in the fight against malaria to help build stronger health systems - our first line of defence against existing and emerging diseases.

• Invest in the development and scale up of innovative tools and technologies that will help us beat malaria and other deadly diseases.

• Unite to protect our hard-won gains. By working together, we can end malaria and overcome new threats to global public health such as COVID-19.

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