Nigeria Recorded Highest Malaria Deaths Globally In 2020 – WHO

World Health Organisation, on Monday, said the world was on the verge of a potential malaria crisis.

This is as the global health body revealed in a report it released that Nigeria contributed the largest malaria deaths in 2020 in the African region and globally.

It also stated that the coronavirus pandemic-related disruptions caused tens of thousands more deaths.

The UN health agency found out that COVID-19 had reversed progress against the mosquito-borne disease, which was already reaching its plateau before the pandemic struck.

The WHO said, “There were an estimated 241 million cases worldwide in 2020; 14 million more than a year earlier and the once rapidly falling death toll swelled to 627,000 last year, jumping 69,000 from 2019.

“Approximately, two third of those additional deaths were linked to disruptions in the provision of malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment during the pandemic.”

According to the report, 96 per cent of malaria deaths were reported in 29 countries of the world.