Letter: World Malaria Day is a wake-up call

Monday, April 25, is World Malaria Day. The fight against malaria, a life-threatening disease that is both preventable and treatable, is considered one of the 21st Century's greatest public health successes.

In 20 years, global efforts to eradicate malaria and other preventable diseases, led by the international partnership of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, have made enormous progress. The Global Fund alone has saved 44 million lives since 2002. But this progress is now in jeopardy.

Tragically, COVID-19 has set the world back in the fight against malaria, as well as other preventable diseases.

When COVID-19 shut down world, malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment services were disrupted. People were not able to get treatment. In 2020, the reported number of malaria cases increased by 14 million over the prior year, and deaths grew to 627,000 from 558,000.

This is a major wake-up call.

The Global Fund, as the largest funding source in fighting malaria, providing nearly 60% of all international financing, is needed now more than ever.

Its partners must continue their support of the Fund to protect hard-won gains and attain more successes.

I am deeply grateful to the U.S. for our strong commitment to the Global Fund over the last 20 years and urge a renewed pledge of $2 billion per year be made at the Global Fund Replenishment Conference later this year.

This can be the year COVID-19 ends. It also must be the year the world gets back on track to end malaria and other preventable diseases by ensuring everyone, everywhere has access to lifesaving prevention and treatment.

Jan Lohs

Inverness