The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that up to 25 countries are expected to integrate malaria vaccines into their childhood immunization programs by the end of 2025. This milestone could significantly reduce malaria-related deaths among children.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, shared this update on Monday during a virtual media briefing on global health challenges. He emphasized that malaria vaccination has the potential to save tens of thousands of young lives every year.
However, Dr. Ghebreyesus raised concerns over recent cuts to US funding for global health initiatives, warning that progress made in the past two decades is now at risk. “Many of the gains in malaria control over the last 20 years are under threat due to these funding cuts,” he said.
The US has been a key contributor to malaria eradication efforts through agencies like USAID and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Ghebreyesus warned that the impact of these funding cuts is already evident, with stockouts and delivery delays affecting malaria diagnostics, medicines, and insecticide-treated nets. “For two decades, the US has been the largest bilateral donor in the fight against malaria, preventing an estimated 2.2 billion cases and 12.7 million deaths,” he noted. If funding disruptions persist, he projected an additional 15 million malaria cases and 107,000 deaths in 2024 alone, potentially reversing 15 years of progress.
Dr. Ghebreyesus also highlighted the impact of funding cuts on other health programs, including HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and measles. The suspension of most US funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has halted essential HIV services in over 50 countries. Eight nations are already facing severe disruptions in antiretroviral therapy, with some at risk of running out of medication soon. This could result in more than 10 million additional HIV cases and three million HIV-related deaths.
WHO reports that 27 countries in Africa and Asia are experiencing severe disruptions in TB programs due to shortages of healthcare workers, diagnostic tools, and failing data systems. Nine nations have already reported procurement and supply chain issues for TB medications. The WHO’s Global Measles and Rubella Network, primarily funded by the US, faces imminent shutdown as global measles outbreaks surge. In 2024 alone, 57 major measles outbreaks have been reported. Polio eradication efforts and monitoring of emerging diseases like avian influenza are also at risk.
Dr. Ghebreyesus urged other donor countries to step in and for nations that rely on US funding to increase domestic health investments. Nearly 24 million people in crisis-affected regions are at risk of losing access to essential healthcare services unless alternative funding sources are secured. As malaria vaccination gains momentum, sustaining financial support for global health programs remains critical to protecting vulnerable populations worldwide.
