- Tanzania and East Africa at Risk
By Business Insider Reporter
A potential reduction in global funding for malaria control could trigger one of the deadliest resurgences in history, threatening millions of lives across sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania and its East African neighbours, The Guardian (UK) has reported.
According to a new joint analysis by Malaria No More UK and the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), expected cuts to wealthy nations’ contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria could lead to 33 million additional malaria cases and 82,000 deaths by 2030.
The impact on Africa’s economy could exceed US$5.14 billion in lost GDP, with devastating effects on health systems, productivity, and trade.
“Cutting funding risks the deadliest resurgence we’ve ever seen,” warned Gareth Jenkins of Malaria No More UK, adding that progress achieved over the past two decades could unravel within a few years if commitments are not maintained.
The Global Fund provides nearly 60 percent of all international financing for malaria prevention, including mosquito nets, rapid testing, and preventive medication – lifelines in regions like Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, which collectively account for millions of malaria cases annually.
Tanzania’s vulnerability
Tanzania remains one of Africa’s 10 most malaria-burdened nations, recording over 4 million cases annually, despite strong national control measures.
The country has made significant strides in reducing child mortality through widespread distribution of insecticide-treated nets and expansion of community health programs.
However, the new funding uncertainties threaten these gains. Without sustained investment, the Tanzania National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) warns that preventive campaigns could be scaled back, particularly in high-transmission zones such as Kigoma, Kagera, and Mwanza, where climate change and flooding have worsened mosquito breeding.
Regional economic impact
The Guardian report notes that malaria is not just a public health issue – it’s an economic barrier. Across East Africa, malaria’s toll on worker absenteeism, tourism, agriculture, and education continues to suppress growth.
“Malaria is not just a health crisis; it is an US$83 billion brake on Africa’s growth and enterprise. Business cannot thrive in sick communities,” said Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, urging African business leaders to help close the funding gap.
The ripple effect of reduced funding could also threaten regional trade through labour shortages, reduced agricultural output, and increased healthcare spending. For Tanzania, whose agriculture sector employs over 65% of the workforce, rising malaria rates would directly undermine productivity and food security.
East Africa steps up – but needs global support
ALMA’s Executive Secretary and former Botswana health minister, Joy Phumaphi, emphasised that many African countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda, have increased domestic funding for malaria. However, she cautioned that these efforts alone cannot fill the global shortfall.
“African countries are stepping up to the plate,” Phumaphi told The Guardian. “But we are appealing to the rest of the world to accompany us on this journey, because all of us need to be part of the end story of malaria.”
If international contributions drop by 20 percent, the report warns that Africa could see “the loss of a generation to malaria,” with 750,000 child deaths projected by 2030. Conversely, if the Global Fund meets its full $18 billion target, the continent could prevent 1.86 million deaths and add $230 billion in GDP growth through improved productivity and stability.
Call to action
The Guardian report underscores growing calls for new financing models, including public-private partnerships, innovative health bonds, and corporate philanthropy, to sustain malaria control.
For East Africa — where malaria still drains household incomes and public budgets — the stakes could not be higher. The loss of funding risks not just human lives but the momentum toward regional prosperity and integration.
As one Tanzanian health economist put it: “Malaria control isn’t charity – it’s an investment in Africa’s economic future. Every shilling spent saves lives, strengthens economies, and builds resilience.” With the next Global Fund replenishment round set for 2026–2029, the world’s response will determine whether East Africa continues to progress — or faces a resurgence that could undo decades of hard-won gains.
