As the challenge on preventing malaria becomes more acute, many countries and organizations are increasing the annual funds for malaria research and vaccine development. As per one estimate, funding for malaria research increased from $5 million in 1997 to $800 million in 2007. Apart from global agencies like WHO and UNICEF, not-for-profit organization likes the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation are focusing heavily on malaria preventives.
Malaria inflicts a huge economic cost on the population of the countries who are suffering. The disease greatly reduces the immunity of the affected people, making them susceptible to other ailments as well in the future. Continued vulnerability also leads to the inability of people to be productive for a longer period of time. Also, affected children are unable to continue their education resulting in a high number of school absenteeism. Eventually, they become unfit for employment or fit enough to lead a normal social life in the future.
The effort to prevent, cure and control malaria is a huge cost on public health spending. In many countries, malaria accounts for almost 40% of the total public health spending. There is the recurring cost of medicines, vaccinations and setting-up of healthcare centers. Many sub-Saharan countries lose almost 1.3% GDP annually due to malaria. This figure, compounded annually over many years, is a huge economic setback. A huge healthcare cost prevents the economic and social planners of countries from providing funds to other sectors which may be equally critical to development.
Apart from the expense of continuous funding, research and development and the economic cost to any country, there is a huge human cost. When livelihood is disrupted, children are sick and unable to attend schools, and people are unable to fight off the disease, the lives of millions are untimely disrupted. This puts any society and country far behind in the quest for progress, development, peace and well-being of its citizens.
