Malaria persists in Ethiopia despite decades of control efforts

The country accounts for approximately 3.6 percent of global malaria-related deaths, with 80 percent of cases concentrated in rural, farming populations. Historically, malaria has been a leading cause of illness in Ethiopia for over a century, with an ambitious eradication campaign in 1959 aiming to eliminate the disease by 1980, a goal that was not achieved. Malaria transmission in Ethiopia is unstable, peaking twice annually after rainy seasons, and is characterized by periodic epidemics.

Despite progress in reducing incidence, morbidity, and mortality by more than half over the past two decades, recent trends show a 23 percent increase in reported cases between 2021 and 2022, largely due to disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic and armed conflict. The persistence of malaria is attributed to a combination of environmental factors like climate change expanding mosquito habitats, the biology of the disease including the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and the emergence of Anopheles stephensi, and systemic gaps such as limited awareness, uneven access to care, and inconsistent use of preventive tools. Human vulnerability is high among children under five, pregnant women, the elderly, and mobile populations.

The article highlights that the disease thrives in conditions of poverty, inadequate sanitation, and poor water supply. Challenges also