Malaria
Extract from the World Health Organisation Website – Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable. There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the greatest threats.
There were an estimated 246 million cases of malaria in 2024, and the estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 597,000.
The WHO’s latest update – 2024
Mortality rate, 2016
Zambia 34.9 – Mortality rate 27 highest in the world
According to WHO’s latest World malaria report, there were an estimated 282 million cases and 610, 000 malaria deaths worldwide in 2024. This represents about 9 million more cases in 2024 compared to 2023. Approximately 95% of the deaths occurred in the WHO African Region. Children under 5 years of age accounted for approximately 76% of all malaria deaths in this Region.
In many remote communities people have to rely on bacteria-infected streams and contaminated shallow wells, and in some areas from rivers teaming with crocodiles, to obtain water. Schistosomiasis, also known as Balharzia, is common.
Malaria disease caused by P. falciparum may result in death within hours or a few days of infection especially in those with a low immunity such as children, pregnant women, people with AIDS and travellers with little or no malaria protection. It can also result in the miscarriage of pregnant women, low birth-weight infants, developmental disabilities and other complications.
Map courtesy of GIS+E of malaria case incidence rate (cases per 1000 population at risk) by country, 2018. Source: WHO estimates. Malaria incidence, 2018 0.1 to 1 1 to 10 =10 to 50 >50 to 100 >100 to 250 →250 Not applicable No malaria. Zambia (2018) 17 million people at risk, 2.7 million cases, 7,000 deaths
Malaria Statistics
According to the World Health Organisation in 2019, there were an estimated 229 million cases of malaria in 91 countries, an increase of 12 million cases over 2016.
Malaria deaths reached 409 000 in 2019 compared with 411 000 deaths in 2018
- Globally malaria is one of the biggest killers of man in low-income countries
- An estimated 3.4 billion people are at risk of malaria
- 94% of deaths occur in the WHO Africa Region
Our support is vital – without it these vulnerable people would have limited services.
Our Malaria Projects
The charity also provides mosquito nets and educational workshops in remote villages and pioneered a project, ‘Mosquito nets for schools‘ in 2017. Early testing is imperative – it can be easily treated. Workshops inform the people of the importance of being tested and how sleeping under insecticide-treated nets can save lives. Community health workers provide a vital role in helping to prevent complications caused by malaria.
The Butterfly Tree helps to increase awareness and raise funds to assist Zambia’s fight against malaria. In 2015 a safe innovative malaria prevention initiative was brought into Zambia by The Butterfly Tree, with the potential to save thousands of lives. It is proving to substantially reduce the number of malaria cases in the Southern Province of Zambia. The interventions include a safe insecticidal coating, which is harmless to humans and animals, and larviciding.
The film has since been circulated to all health facilities in the Kazungula District and is one of their major methods use to sensitize the people and for facilities that do not have any equipment mobiles phone communication is being used.
To further help the global fight against malaria The Butterfly Tree has been working with Medical Aid Films. The organisation has produced a wonderful, animated video on malaria prevention, after which The Butterfly Tree had it translated into the local Tokalya language: Use this link to see the film entitled ‘How to prevent malaria‘
We have received support from Saga Charitable Trust and Medisave UK, The Murphy Family Foundation, The Agnus Lawson Memorial Trust, St James Place Foundation, Nick Bousliman, and Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs.
