© WHO / Ruel Serrano
Health Promotion Officer Felicity Teaitala and her team in Solomon Islands conduct indoor residual spraying – applying insecticide to the inside walls and roofs of homes to kill mosquitoes. She also promotes mosquito nets for malaria prevention.
© Credits

World Malaria Day 2026

25 April 2026

Driven to end malaria: Now we can. Now we must.

For the first time, ending malaria is a real possibility. Science is advancing faster than ever with new vaccines, treatments, malaria control tools and pioneering technologies.

But malaria doesn't wait. When funding falls and programmes weaken, it comes back fast, reversing hard-won gains. World Malaria Day 2026 with the theme, "Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must," is a rallying cry to grasp the moment to protect lives now and fund a malaria-free future.

Malaria in the Western Pacific

In the Region, 1.7 million malaria cases were reported in 2024, with 346 reported malaria deaths. Malaria incidence remained stable at 2.3 cases per 1000 at-risk population.

Notable progress has been achieved in several countries, with Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam together reducing malaria incidence and deaths by 75% – a WHO Global Technical Strategy 2025 target for malaria. Cambodia has had zero transmission of Plasmodium falciparum – the deadliest malaria parasite – since end of 2023.

China was certified as malaria free in 2021, and Malaysia has maintained zero indigenous cases for seven consecutive years. Diagnosis and treatment coverage in the Region have improved substantially.

Challenges remain. The Western Pacific faces antimalarial drug resistance and insecticide resistance to the mosquito nets used for malaria prevention. Persistent malaria transmission continues in high-burden island countries, such as Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and parts of Vanuatu. Funding sustainability remains a major concern as donor support declines, threatening vector control and surveillance activities. Climate change drives malaria resurgence and disrupts essential services.

Call to action 

To make a malaria-free future a reality, we must:

  • Sustain and scale funding, with efficiency.
  • Champion country leadership.
  • Ensure consistent partner support.
  • Accelerate innovation.
  • Empower communities.

With the tools and resources available today, no one should die from malaria.

More on the calls to action