Malaria in the UN
By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases.
- Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 3, Target 3.3
Malaria is a regular item on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly. Each year the UN General Assembly adopts a resolution on “Consolidating gains and accelerating efforts to control and eliminate malaria in developing countries, particularly in Africa, by 2030”. At the request of Member States, WHO submits an annual report to inform their discussions.
The latest resolution, published in September 2020, expresses “grave concern” over the health burden of malaria worldwide, with more than 200 million cases and 400 000 deaths reported each year. It recognizes that sub Saharan Africa is particularly hard hit by the disease, accounting for more than 90% of malaria deaths each year.
Member States, with the support of development partners, are encouraged to:
- provide universal access to existing life-saving tools for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of malaria;
- ensure equity in access to health services for all people at risk of contracting malaria, especially for the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.
The resolution recognizes the need for increased political commitment and financial support to reach internationally-agreed goals in the fight against malaria, including Goal 3, Target 3.3, of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and related targets of the WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030.