Young people in sub-Saharan Africa missing nearly 100 days of school due to malaria, research says

Detailed summary

Malaria No More UK calls on donors – including the UK government – to continue investing in major global health bodies such as the Global Fund to fight Aids, TB and Malaria in the age of aid cuts

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Malaria has forced young people entering the workforce in sub-Saharan Africa today to miss nearly 100 days of school on average, according to new research.

The missed education means they are likely to earn 10 per cent less than they otherwise would over their lifetimes, the report from campaign group Malaria No More UK warned.

Campaigners urged international donors to boost spending to tackle malaria, amid fears of a resurgence of the disease. Cases are around a fifth higher now than they were in 2015, with over 280 million cases annually.

Malaria can be deadly, killing around 610,000 people a year – most of whom are African children aged five or under. The new report highlights the long-term impact even on survivors.

The disease, spread by mosquitoes, causes high fevers that mean a child must stay off school or go to hospital to recover, falling behind their peers. Some rare cases result in brain problems that permanently impair their ability to learn.

The African Leaders Malaria Alliance has estimated that falling international aid spending could result in a 30 per cent shortfall in malaria funding in coming years.

Modelling produced by Impact Global Health for the new report found that a 30 per cent fall in funding for malaria prevention would mean an 18 per cent increase in lost school days for children born this year.

That could threaten the opportunity of an expected “demographic dividend” on the continent, with Africa due to have the highest number of working age people by 2040, the report warns.

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