Malaria season has begun across large parts of Africa, and it remains the continent’s deadliest disease, particularly for children. However, a significant cut in U.S. aid is now threatening efforts to control the disease, with local health officials fearing catastrophic consequences in some of the world’s poorest communities.
U.S. Aid Cuts Impact Malaria Control Efforts
In January 2025, the U.S. government decided to end 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts, impacting efforts to fight malaria across Africa. Dr. Jimmy Opigo, who runs Uganda’s malaria control program, shared his concerns with The Associated Press, stating that the recent termination of contracts left him and other health leaders scrambling to prepare for potential disasters. The U.S. has long been the largest funder of malaria control efforts in Africa, making these cuts particularly devastating.
Dr. Opigo explained, “Anti-malarial medicines and insecticide-treated bed nets are like our groceries. There has to be a continuous supply.” As these essential supplies dwindle due to the cuts, he anticipates a rise in severe malaria cases later this year, which could include complications such as organ failure. Malaria is a disease without a cure, and while vaccines are being rolled out across parts of Africa, their effectiveness remains imperfect.
Worsening Situation and Global Health Risks
Malaria No More, a Washington-based organization, released a new report showing that even a single year of disruption in the malaria control supply chain could result in nearly 15 million additional malaria cases and 107,000 additional deaths worldwide. The group has called on the U.S. government to restore funding for these life-saving programs before the situation spirals out of control.
Africa’s 1.5 billion people accounted for 95% of the estimated 597,000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2023, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The loss of U.S. support for malaria control efforts is especially concerning in the countries most affected by the disease: Nigeria, Congo, and Uganda.
Impact in Uganda, Nigeria, and Congo
In Uganda, malaria accounted for 12.6 million cases and nearly 16,000 deaths in 2023, with many of the victims being children under the age of five and pregnant women. According to WHO data, malaria represents between 30% and 50% of outpatient visits in health facilities across the country. Dr. Opigo noted that USAID’s support has provided between $30 million and $35 million annually for malaria control in Uganda. However, due to the recent funding cuts, critical programs like mosquito-spraying operations ahead of the rainy season have been suspended.
These suspensions are a major concern as stagnant water from the rainy season serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Without the necessary support, the threat of malaria could grow even more severe.
Nigeria Faces Rising Threats
Nigeria, which records a quarter of the world’s malaria cases, has made significant progress in reducing malaria-related deaths. Since 2000, the country has reduced malaria-related deaths by 55%, thanks to U.S. aid and global health partnerships. In 2023 alone, Nigeria received approximately $600 million in U.S. health assistance, though it remains unclear if all of that funding has been affected by the recent cuts. Since 2011, U.S. support through the President’s Malaria Initiative has provided vital supplies such as 164 million fast-acting medicines, 83 million insecticide-treated bed nets, and over 100 million malaria rapid diagnostic tests.
The Situation in Congo
The situation is similarly dire in Congo, where U.S. funding has contributed over $650 million to malaria control efforts since 2010. However, the loss of funding threatens to reverse years of progress. The country’s ongoing conflict and displacement of health workers in the east have already complicated efforts to track and contain malaria outbreaks. Dr. Yetunde Ayo-Oyalowo, who leads the Market Doctors nonprofit in Nigeria, expressed concern about the impact of U.S. funding cuts on vulnerable populations. “Some people are really poor and cannot afford malaria treatment,” she said. Ayo-Oyalowo’s organization diagnoses malaria in up to 40% of its clients.
Hope for Continued Aid Through Global Partnerships
Despite the significant reduction in U.S. aid, health workers in Africa remain hopeful that some funding will continue through other channels, including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. However, the Global Fund also relies on U.S. funding, and it has yet to issue a statement on the cuts. Dr. Opigo suggested that other U.S. agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), might provide some support, though he emphasized the importance of managing relations with the U.S. government carefully.
The cuts in U.S. funding for malaria control are putting millions of lives at risk. As health workers in Africa prepare for a potentially catastrophic malaria season, the international community must work together to fill the gap left by the reduction in U.S. support. Without continued investment in malaria control efforts, Africa’s fight against this deadly disease will face major setbacks.
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