Malaria persists in Ethiopia despite decades of control efforts
via The Reporter Ethiopia12 min read
Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in Ethiopia, with cases rising from 3.3 million in 2022 to 4.1 million in 2023. 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
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
Must ReadThe Tigray People Liberation Front TPLF Central Committee is holding a high-stakes meeting in Axum, sparking fears of a political rupture in Tigray. The meeting, which began on April 15, 2026, is expected to address the fallout from the extension of Interim Administration President Lieutenant General Tadesse Werede’s mandate. This issue has exposed a growing divide between the TPLF and the current regional leadership. Regional political leaders suggest the TPLF may seek to reject the interim administration and restore its pre-war government structure. Yosef Berhe, vice chairman of the Baytona Party, believes the TPLF aims to dismantle the interim arrangement and reinstate the previous regional government, potentially framing this as a grassroots demand. Alemseged Aragay, vice chairman and foreign relations head of the Tigray Independence Party TIP, warned that the situation is at a dangerous turning point, with the TPLF now openly rejecting the extension of President Tadesse’s tenure, despite previously aligning with his interests. The controversy follows an April 8 announcement from the Office of the Prime Minister extending Lieutenant General Tadesse Worede's term by another year. The TPLF stated this extension violates the Pretoria Agreement and lacks legitimacy. President Tadesse acknowledged the opposition, stating that while rejecting his appointment is a right, the rejection itself is "childish." He also revealed that the Tigray region's budget has been cut since Octob
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