Climate change is intensifying the spread of malaria in Pakistan, with the nation now recording over 2 million cases annually, according to a joint warning released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services.
The warning, issued on World Malaria Day, underscored the escalating burden of the disease and the critical need for coordinated action to curb its increasing prevalence.
The WHO’s international theme for World Malaria Day, “Reinvest, Reimagine, Renew”, emphasized the necessity for greater investment and a renewed focus on eradicating malaria. Both the WHO and Pakistan have called for enhanced collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure that resource limitations do not hinder the fight against malaria.
Pakistan’s struggle with malaria has been significantly complicated by the devastating floods of 2022, which contributed an additional 6.6 million new malaria cases during the 2022-2024 period. The most recent data indicates a sharp rise to 2.7 million malaria cases in 2023, a stark contrast to the 399,000 cases reported in 2021. The total malaria burden in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region is estimated at 12 million cases in 2023, marking an alarming 137% increase compared to 2015.
Despite these formidable challenges, significant strides have been made in malaria prevention and treatment. In 2024, Pakistan screened over 11.4 million suspected cases and provided treatment to 2 million confirmed cases, with substantial support from the WHO and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Furthermore, over 7.8 million insecticide-treated nets have been distributed in high-risk districts, a considerable increase from the 2.7 million distributed in 2023.
The WHO expressed confidence in Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to combat malaria, emphasizing that the elimination of the disease is achievable if all stakeholders commit to investing and collaborating to strengthen response mechanisms, particularly in the face of climate-induced challenges.
WHO data collected from 5,575 health facilities across 80 affected districts reveals a stark increase in malaria cases, directly correlated with climate change factors such as rising temperatures and frequent floods. These environmental shifts, coupled with poverty, limited access to quality healthcare, and deteriorating security in regions like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh, have exacerbated the malaria crisis.
Current evidence strongly supports the effectiveness of existing malaria control programs. However, experts emphasize that sustained and coordinated actions are crucial to mitigating the impacts of climate change and ensuring the long-term health and well-being of Pakistan’s population.
As the country grapples with these mounting challenges, the WHO and the Government of Pakistan have reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to saving lives and securing a healthier future for all. The urgent call to action underscores the critical need for both local and global cooperation to address the interconnected threats of malaria and climate change.
