### Malaria in 2023: a worldwide challenge still intact
Malaria remains one of the most worrying infectious diseases worldwide. In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that 263 million people were affected by this disease, with an alarming proportion of 95 % of the deaths that occurred in Africa. At a time when global attention is often focused on other health crises, it is essential to return to this problem, seeking to understand the reasons for this persistent prevalence.
### 10. Context and impact of malaria
Malaria is a parasitic disease transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes, mainly of the genus *anopheles *. The current situation is the result of several interconnected factors. On the one hand, limited access to appropriate medical care, antimalarial treatments and prevention methods – such as mosquito nets imbued with insecticide – plays a crucial role. On the other hand, socio-economic conditions in many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, complicate the fight against this disease. Indeed, poverty and insufficient health infrastructure often compromise prevention and treatment efforts.
#### 2. Interview with Olivier Bouchaud
To better understand this reality, Fatshimetrics asked Olivier Bouchaud, head of infectious and tropical diseases at Avicenne hospital. Mr. Bouchaud underlines that “the fight against malaria requires a multidimensional approach”. This approach must include not only medical treatment, but also educational initiatives aimed at raising awareness of prevention.
According to him, “the challenge is not only to provide treatments, but also to establish awareness and education programs that allow communities to protect themselves effectively from malaria”. This vision highlights the importance of involving local populations in the fight against disease, offering them the tools necessary to reduce the risk of infection.
### 3. Treatment and research challenges
Malaria also presents challenges related to the emergence of drug resistance. Antimaludic treatments, although always effective, encounter limits in the face of certain strains of parasites. Research on new treatments and vaccines is therefore crucial. However, funding and research priorities can sometimes neglect this disease, in favor of conditions considered to be more pressing.
### 4. World reactions and initiatives
On the international level, efforts have been made to coordinate the fight against malaria, in particular through financing programs, such as the Global Fund for Combating AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. However, the ineffectiveness of the distribution of long -term resources and strategies remains a concern. Emphasis must be placed on the harmonization of efforts between governments, NGOs and local communities to ensure that interventions are sustainable and adapted to the specific needs of populations.
#### 5. To a future without malaria
Faced with such a difficult scenario, questions must be asked: what additional strategies can be implemented to strengthen the fight against malaria? How to further mobilize international resources while supporting the autonomy of countries affected by this disease? And above all, how to promote more solid global cooperation in this fight?
Malaria, despite the progress carried out, remains a major public health problem. This is a call for collective action that must encourage us to reflect on the means of eradicating this disease, integrating both treatment and prevention. By not losing sight of the importance of a human and community approach, there remains a glimmer of hope in the fight against this disease which, too long, has been left behind on the world chessboard.
The challenge is size, but with a renewed commitment, it remains possible to reduce the impact of malaria and, hopefully, ultimately eradicate this former enemy of humanity.