On World Malaria Day, 25 April, Africa faces a difficult moment after many years of progress. In 2024 the continent had over 270 million malaria cases and nearly 595,000 deaths, and child mortality is rising again.
Many young children die from several conditions at once, for example malaria, malnutrition and pneumonia. Health systems often treat single diseases and this creates gaps. Research and data are sometimes produced but not used locally. Africa needs more clinical and implementation research near communities to learn what works and how to deliver it at scale.
Difficult words
- malaria — A serious disease spread by mosquitoes.
- mortality — The number of deaths in a group.
- malnutrition — Bad health from not enough good food.
- pneumonia — An infection in the lungs that hurts breathing.
- research — Careful study to find new facts.
- clinical — Related to medical care and patients.
- implementation — The act of putting a plan into practice.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why is research near communities useful for health care in Africa?
- Do children in your area sometimes have more than one illness? Give an example.
- What could help health systems avoid gaps when they treat diseases?
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