Malaria in Ethiopia

Communicable disease

Diseases which spread from host to host, caused by pathogens

Deaths per year globally from malaria (2020)

627,000

Deaths per year from malaria in ethiopia

70,000

percentage of ethiopian population at risk

2/3

percentage of global malaria deaths in africa

96%

Where in Ethiopia has the highest transmission rate?

The Western Lowlands (link to physical factors/barriers for spread of disease).

What areas in ethiopia have the highest risk for malaria

Gambela, Tigray and Western Amhara

Climatic reason for transmission rates being highest

June to sept. - rainy season, humid and wet climate (perfect for vectors).

Average temp in west ethiopia

26 degrees celcius (and above)

Annual precipitation in west ethiopia

1,200 to 2,400mm

What is an endemic disease

a disease that is permenantly present in a certain area, and unable to be eradicated.

For what percentage of the population is Malaria an endemic

75%

Why do Ethiopia’s highlands have minimal malaria cases

Higher altitude means lower temperatures, and mosquitoes become lethargic under 15 degrees & cannot function under ten.

How has the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam increased the risk of malaria

Being in western Ethiopia (climate already hot and humid), large pool of still water - breeding ground for mosquitoes

How has industry/agriculture increased the risk of malaria

Rice cultivation and irrigation schemes inGambella - pools of still water in humid areas attract mosquitoes. Large amounts of people outside and so many at risk

What percentage of the workforce is in agriculture

76%

How do migration patterns impact the spread of disease

seasonal migration from highlands to lowlands during rainy season (peak malaria transmission time)

How are agricultural workers further at risk for malaria transmision

They often sleep on the floor during rainy season (no homes - seasonal migrants for the employment), and so are more at risk to being bitten.

Why are we struggling to eradicate Malaria even with drugs

Chloroquine - a key drug used in ethiopia to tackle malaria has become less effective due to the vectors adapting/mutating, and humans becoming resistant to the drugs.

How much money is lost per year due to absenteeism

$12 billion per year is lost in sub saharan africa

What percentage of healthcare expenditure is spent on malaria

40%

How can malaria outbreaks further damage the ethiopian economy

dissuading tourists - economic loss (no tourism money),

How can malaria further impact food security nationally

as so many people work in agriculture, if workers are sick - less food production, can lead to other diseases (such as malnutrition, scurvy, rickets etc.)

What are the knock-on effects of a malaria outbreak in the western lowlands

Increased migration to the highlands, overpopulation - overuse of the land - soil degredation, unable to farm anything.

Ethiopia’s GDP per capita

$1100

How many malaria episodes are there per year

5 million

What is the PMI

President’s malaria initiative - started by Bush and backed by USAID working since 2008 to combat and tackle malaria outbreaks in Ethiopia

How much has PMI invested

$508 million

What are the current issues with PMI (as of 2025)

President Trump’s plan to dismantle USAID & pulling 49% of USAID’s funding means that its work has been impacted - possible stop to the whole PMI

National strategies to eliminate disease:

NMSP (national malaria strategic plan) - intending to eliminate malaria by 2030.

How many malaria cases were there in ethiopia in 2023

4.1 million

What does co-ordination mean for managements

the collaboration between the ethiopian nat. gov, international governmental organisations and supranational organisations (WHO) to spread awarness, tackle disease and prevent outbreaks

What is the UN global tech strategy for malaria

Aim to reduce death rates worldwide by atleast 90% by 2030 (part of sustainable development goal no. 3)

How many mosquito nets have PMI delivered

47.3 million

How many homes did PMI give insectcide to

12.1 million

how many rapid diagnostic tests did PMI run

9.2 million

how many fast acting medicines did PMI give out

15 million

Limitations of management strategies:

• Homes technically need to be sprayed with insecticide every 3 to 6 months (short term solution)

• Mosquito nets only protect people at night at home (don’t protect people sleeping outside when working the farm).

• Ethiopian government is insanely reliant on PMI, and the way that trump is headed majority of this funding might be pulled.

What percentage have malaria deaths been reduced by since 2000

54%

When was the last malaria epidemic in the country

2003