World Malaria Day is commemorated every year on April 25 and recognises global efforts to control malaria. Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria. In 2012, malaria caused an estimated 627,000 deaths, mostly among African children. Asia, Latin America, and to a lesser extent the Middle East and parts of Europe are also affected.

Positive figures

According to the latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO)...
>> Malaria mortality rates have decreased by 47 percent worldwide and 54 percent in Africa alone since 2000
>> An estimated 4 million malaria-related deaths have been averted since 2001, approximately 97 per cent of which have been children under five
>> Some 584,000 people died worldwide in 2013 from malaria, with 90 percent of these deaths occurring in Africa.
>> Approximately 198 million cases of malaria have been reported worldwide
>> Between 2001 and 2013, 4.3 million lives were saved by improved access to malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment
>> Of the above mentioned figures, 92 percent (3.9 million) were children under five in sub-Saharan Africa