World Malaria Day 2022: The Time is Now to Protect Decades of Progress

World Malaria Day 2022 is here! This occasion provides an opportunity for the global community to celebrate the remarkable progress made this century against this disease and to reinforce what is needed to keep the world on track towards eradication within this generation. Today, progress is being threatened by a variety of global challenges, including COVID-19 disruptions, insecticide and drug resistance, climate change, and record levels of displacement. The time is now to scale up access to malaria interventions where the burden is greatest, build effective partnerships across borders and sectors, and galvanize the next generation of champions that will one day lead the global malaria community.

In 2022, our campaign continues to prioritize protecting those most at-risk of malaria – particularly young children, pregnant women, people displaced by conflict and natural disasters, and remote communities with limited healthcare access. Through donor contributions, over the past year we’ve funded malaria projects in Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, and South Sudan. Not only do these countries suffer from a high malaria burden, but they also have been impacted by armed conflict, natural disasters, and mass displacement. We also supported malaria elimination efforts across 17 Latin America and Caribbean countries.  

In 2021, we helped protect 1,298,117 people from malaria by supporting the delivery of 150,720 insecticide-treated bed nets, 460,650 anti-malarial treatments, 147,325 rapid diagnostic tests, and an indoor residual spraying campaign that protected 70,174 homes. We also supported malaria training for 566 health workers and lab technicians.

We are leaders in the malaria community. We have taken critical roles in global consortiums, such as the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and the Alliance for Malaria Prevention. Additionally, we are  maintaining strategic relationships with our United Nations  partners, including The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, and other key stakeholders.

Finally, we have empowered champions from a wide range of backgrounds and professions to unite around the fight against malaria. These Champions remain vital to the work we do. In addition to raising awareness, fundraising and hosting community events, they also meet with their members of Congress to emphasize the impact and critical importance of US-supported malaria programs. In 2021, our Champions led over 245 virtual meetings with Members of Congress. If you’d like to become a United to Beat Malaria Champion, text the word “champion” to 30644. 

2022 is a critical year. Billions of dollars for lifesaving malaria programs hang in the balance, based on decisions made in the halls of the U.S. Congress and by countries around the world at the Global Fund Replenishment Conference this Fall. We look forward to working with our champions and partners to ensure continued progress towards a malaria-free world. 

If you’d like to support our work in northeast Nigeria, donate to our World Malaria Day fundraiser! In honor of World Malaria Day, all gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $100,000, thanks to a generous matching pledge from the Benito & Frances C. Gaguine Foundation. This is a great opportunity to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people while doubling your impact through matching funds.