World Malaria Day 2025

World Malaria Day 2025 will be marked with the theme “Malaria ends with us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, aiming to re-energize efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action, to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination.

The Western Pacific faces challenges on the road to malaria elimination. In particular, the epidemiology of malaria exhibits enormous diversity, with the disease often concentrated in remote areas and/or among highly mobile or hard-to-reach populations, including forest goers, migrants, indigenous people, military and refugees. 

Other key challenges in the Region include reaching remote populations in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, preventing relapse of vivax malaria through compliant full-course treatment, and halting transmission of knowlesi zoonotic malaria in Malaysia. 

Reaching these populations with malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment is a critical strategy for achieving global malaria targets and delivering on the promise of “zero malaria.” WHO is working with countries and areas in the Region to develop and implement intensification strategies, such as targeted drug administration, fever screening and treatment, and rapid response to all malaria cases.?

Malaria vaccines are a breakthrough for child health and malaria control. Two safe and effective vaccines are recommended by WHO: RTS,S and R21. 

These vaccines are now available and being used in 19 countries in Africa. WHO is committed to working with countries and partners to support the rollout of malaria vaccines so more at-risk populations can benefit from this additional malaria prevention as rapidly as possible.   

While much work still needs to be done to reach “zero malaria”, the Region has had great success at controlling the disease. In 2000-2023, malaria case incidence reduced from 4.1 to 2.3 cases per 1000 population at risk and the malaria mortality rate reduced from 1.0 to 0.4 deaths per 100 000 population at risk. Papua New Guinea accounted for 87.5% of all cases in the Region in 2023, followed by Solomon Islands, the Philippines, and Cambodia. 

China was certified malaria free in 2021. Malaysia has had no cases of human malaria for six consecutive years. Five countries – Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Republic of Korea, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam – had fewer than 10 000 estimated cases in 2023. 

Reinvest: Protect malaria achievements and unlock new potential in 2025

• Increase funding for malaria elimination and control
• Support the full replenishment of the Global Fund and Gavi 
• Boost domestic financing  
• Invest in proven interventions 
• Build strong health systems  

Reimagine: Innovative strategies and tools are needed to accelerate progress towards ending malaria 

• Use data-driven strategies to drive impact
• Accelerate innovation 
• Unlock new funding solutions 
• Turn research into action 

Reignite: It's time to renew the commitment to ending malaria 

• Join the Big Push to end malaria  
• Step up political and financial commitments 
• Celebrate success, inspire action  
• Strengthen community action