Malaria in Angola: Now we can. Now we must!

By: Dr. Nzuzi Katondi, WHO Malaria Officer

On 25 April, the world marks World Malaria Day. In Angola, this date must not be merely symbolic. It must be a moment of truth, of deep reflection and collective mobilization. The slogan chosen for 2026, "Determined to end malaria: now we can. Now we must", is not just a catchphrase, but a call to action backed by science and a moral imperative. For the first time in decades, we have the knowledge, the tools, and the evidence needed to eliminate malaria. The question is simple and uncomfortable: are we prepared to act with the speed and determination required by this reality?

Malaria remains the leading cause of illness and death in Angola, disproportionately affecting children under five and pregnant women, with a profound social, economic, and human impact. Every episode of malaria represents more than just a diagnosis: it means a child who cannot go to school, a father or mother who cannot work, and a family pushed into a cycle of poverty and insecurity. This reality highlights an alarming challenge on the African continent, where nearly 600,000 people, mainly children, died of malaria in 2024. Faced with these figures, the question arises: how many more lives are we willing to lose to a disease that can be prevented and treated?

The World Health Organization has been clear in stating that malaria is not merely a mosquito-borne disease, but is also deeply rooted in social, environmental, and structural factors. The lack of basic sanitation, stagnant water, poor waste management, substandard housing, limited access to healthcare, and poor health education create ideal conditions for disease transmission. Where drainage systems, clean water, urban planning, and knowledge are lacking, the mosquito thrives, and malaria persists.

Even so, the present moment is marked by concrete hope. Never before have there been so many scientific and operational advances in the fight against malaria. New-generation mosquito nets, rapid diagnostics, effective treatments, and, for the first time, malaria vaccines-already introduced in 25 African countries-show that eliminating malaria is no longer a distant ambition. It has become technically achievable. However, science does not save lives if it does not reach the most vulnerable populations. Angola has been strengthening its national response, prioritizing primary healthcare and the central role of communities, in line with WHO recommendations. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain.

Resistance to insecticides and medicines threatens the progress made; climate change is altering transmission patterns; and humanitarian emergencies, such as the recent floods in Benguela, are increasing people's vulnerability.

The response to malaria cannot be limited to the health sector. The WHO emphasizes that eliminating the disease requires coordinated, multisectoral action and shared responsibilities. The Government leads the strategy, ensures predictable funding, integrates the fight against malaria into development policies, invests in basic sanitation, decent housing, and environmental management, and uses data to guide decisions. Local and community leaders promote preventive behaviors and reinforce the correct use of mosquito nets and other tools at their disposal.

Partners and the private sector can accelerate the impact by supporting innovation, logistics, and climate-resilient solutions. In communities, prevention starts at home: families must eliminate stagnant water, protect children and pregnant women, seek healthcare promptly, and share accurate information.

There is also a significant economic dimension. Studies by the WHO and its partners indicate that every dollar invested in malaria prevention and control can generate up to 36 dollars in economic returns by reducing treatment costs, increasing productivity, improving school attendance, and driving sustainable growth. However, the global funding shortfall, estimated at $45 billion over 2026-2030, threatens this progress. The history is clear: when investment declines, the disease advances, and the human and economic cost is always greater.

The WHO has supported Angola by providing technical leadership in defining and implementing policies, strategic plans, and guidelines tailored to the national context, reaffirming its commitment to effective strategies such as malaria vaccines, chemoprophylaxis, new medicines, genetic surveillance, and advanced diagnostics. This joint effort shows that it is possible to eliminate malaria in Angola, provided there is national leadership, multisectoral work, active community involvement, sustained funding, and collaboration with partners.

"Now we can" because we have sound science, concrete evidence, and accumulated experience. "Now we must", because every delay costs lives: the lives of children, mothers, and entire communities trapped in a preventable cycle of disease and poverty. Ending malaria is not just a public health goal, but also an act of social justice, a clear choice in favor of development, and a commitment to human dignity. On this World Malaria Day, the question is direct and unavoidable: if not now, then when? If not all of us, then who will eliminate malaria, protect these lives, and break, once and for all, this cycle of preventable deaths?

This article was first published in Jornal de Angola; a copy can be found here: https://www.jornaldeangola.ao/noticias/9/opini%C3%A3o/674645/mal%C3%A1r…!