By Abdullahi Lukman
Pakistan is suffering a sharp increase in malaria cases due to climate change, with over two million infections reported annually.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Pakista’s Ministry of National Health Services raised this alarm, attributing the surge to climate change.
The two sources said the situation poses a significant threat to both Pakistan and the broader region.
This warning coincided with World Malaria Day, where both the WHO and Pakistani authorities emphasized the need for intensified efforts to combat the disease.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal highlighted the growing risk posed by climate change, calling for a stronger collective response to fight malaria.
In light of the international theme “Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” the WHO urged governments, organizations, and communities to invest in malaria elimination efforts.
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Pakistan’s battle with malaria has been further complicated by the devastating 2022 floods, which contributed to an additional 6.6 million cases between 2022 and 2024.
The number of cases peaked at 2.7 million in 2023, a significant rise from 399,097 cases reported in 2021.
This spike also contributed to an increase in malaria cases in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, which saw an estimated 10.2 million cases in 2023, a 137 percent increase since 2015.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan has made strides in malaria prevention and treatment. The country has worked alongside WHO and received funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
In 2024 alone, Pakistan screened over 11.4 million suspected cases and treated two million confirmed cases. Additionally, 7.8 million insecticide-treated nets were distributed across 22 high-risk districts, leading to a reduction in cases from 2.7 million in 2023 to 2 million in 2024.
However, WHO’s representative in Pakistan, Dapeng Luo, warned that climate change is threatening these advancements, stressing the need for continued investment and collaboration to adapt to new risks.
Data from 5,575 medical facilities across 80 malaria-endemic districts indicates a clear upward trend in cases, linked to rising temperatures and frequent floods. Other challenges include poverty, limited access to healthcare, and security issues in certain regions of Pakistan.
Experts emphasized that while malaria control efforts have been successful, sustained and coordinated action is essential to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect lives in the future.
