According to an analysis by WHO, during the first year of the health crisis (2019-2020), most nations recessed prevention, diagnosis and treatment services for malaria.

According to the analysis, moderate disruptions in the delivery of malaria services contributed to 14 million malaria cases and 69,000 deaths, Pedro Alonso, WHO Global malaria Program said at the launch of the UN agency´s annual World malaria Report in Geneva.

Africa reported around 95% of malaria cases globally in 2020, and 96% of deaths globally.

Even so, “the catastrophic scenario” projected by the UN agency “has not materialized,” said Alonso and assured that at the beginning of the pandemic, WHO forecast a doubling of deaths from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.

However, the analysis found there was an increase of only up to 12%, and this was made possible by the pressing efforts from many governments. We managed to avoid the worst-case scenario of deaths from malaria, added Alonso.

The report confirmed there was a 27% reduction of cases per thousand inhabitants from 2000 to 2020, with a downward trend in the mortality rate.

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