On World Malaria Day, 25 April Pacific Friends of Global Health and the Australian Global Health Alliance are raising the alarm over the potential for a resurgence of malaria throughout the Indo-Pacific region as a result of the US government's decision to cut around 90% of funding for global public health programs.
A new report, Red Alert: Malaria risks to the Indo-Pacific following US aid funding cuts, outlines the success of US and Australian investment in programs to tackle malaria throughout the Indo-Pacific since 2002. This investment has seen incidence rates across the region fall from 18 per 1000 people in 2000 to less than 5 per 1000 people in 2020, and has brought elimination within reach for several countries, including Timor-Leste and the Philippines.
The sudden withdrawal of US funding for malaria control threatens to reverse this progress, and could lead to cases of the disease surging throughout the region, Pacific Friends of Global Health warns.
"Malaria-control programs in the Indo-Pacific have helped 'flatten the curve' of incidence rates since 2002; however, constant effort and investment is needed to sustain this progress and keep case numbers down," Professor Brendan Crabb AC, chair of Pacific Friends of Global Health, says.
"If control efforts are relaxed due to funding cuts by the US, malaria cases will surge, lives will be lost, and illness will be widespread."
"Malaria is not just a health issue – it's an economic and security issue for the Indo-Pacific. A resurgence would have numerous flow-on effects for Australia, including disrupted trade and tourism and increased regional instability."
As a result of the US aid cuts, the World Health Organization (WHO) has already reported severe disruptions to its malaria programs globally. If these disruptions continue, the WHO predicts an additional 15 million malaria cases and 107,000 deaths this year alone. Modelling is currently underway to establish the likely number of additional malaria cases and deaths in the Indo-Pacific region if the shortfall from US funding cuts is not met by increased support from Australia and other donors.
"Australia has long been a leader in malaria elimination efforts. Now, with the US stepping back, we have a critical choice: either step up our efforts or risk seeing the disease spiral out of control," Prof. Crabb says.
"It's crucial that Australia works with other international partners, such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and commit to pledging $351 million to the Global Fund during the 8th replenishment to fill funding gaps so that malaria-control programs can be sustained. This is the only way to prevent a resurgence of the disease throughout the region and reduce the likelihood of a malaria outbreak in Australia."
