International Women’s Day on 8 March presents us with the opportunity to raise awareness of the women and adolescent girls at the heart of the malaria fight, and to shine a spotlight on the ongoing efforts to end malaria and advance gender and health equity.

World Malaria Day, on 25 April, is an opportunity for the global community to collectively raise our voice in unison to keep malaria high on the global health agenda. We must raise a sense of URGENCY and communicate the OPTIMISM for what we can achieve together, IF WE ACT NOW.

Over the last two decades, the global malaria community has made significant gains in reducing the global
burden of malaria. However, in recent years, progress has stalled. Uptake of critical interventions that protect
pregnant women and their unborn children, who are extremely vulnerable to malaria infection, has improved
slowly and steadily but remains low. This hinders efforts towards reaching the 2030 Sustainable Development
Goal target of ending malaria and ensuring that no one is left behind.