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A plenitude of development goals await realisation by 2030, chief among them the elimination of diseases such as malaria in endemic regions.
On the African continent, up to half a billion workdays are said to be lost each year to the “silent killer”.
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A strong case is being made for the symbiotic relationship between eliminating the disease and delivering economic returns, in addition to saving lives.
According to the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (Alma), putting an end to the disease could increase GDP by $127 billion across the continent by 2030. International trade could also benefit from estimated gains of $81 billion through improved market access, consumer demand and enhanced business opportunities.
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Malaria surge sees Africa in race against time
A malaria-free future could be on the horizon
On this episode of The Business of Africa Podcast, Dr Chris van Straten, global health advisor for clinical governance at International SOS, argues that eliminating malaria is not an impossible task, but an intentional one, given that the disease is both preventable and treatable.
In 2024, Cabo Verde and Egypt were declared malaria-free, joining Mauritius, Seychelles, Lesotho, Morocco, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia in being certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
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Globally, 48 countries, including nine in Africa, are now free of the disease.
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