Australia is investing up to $30 million to support governments and communities across the Pacific and Southeast Asia deliver new tools and build critical skills to eliminate malaria.
Malaria remains a major challenge in our region with over 7 million reported cases in 2022, and rising infection rates in some countries. Malaria is a burden on families and health systems, slowing development and restricting growth.
New tools are urgently needed to address the emerging resistance to current treatments, and the impact of climate change, which threaten to roll back progress achieved against malaria.
Our new package, announced on World Malaria Day, provides comprehensive support ranging from preventing infections through strengthened mosquito control to developing better testing tools and improved treatments.
This includes $5 million to James Cook University to support Pacific countries to strengthen surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and zika.
It also includes a new $8 million partnership with non-government health organisation PATH, in a consortium with Australia’s Burnet Institute and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, to develop new diagnostic tests targeted to our region.
Additionally, we are partnering with the Medicines for Malaria Venture, providing $17 million for the development of new malaria treatments including medicines suitable for use in pregnancy and for children.
This new package is part of the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative, which works with governments and civil society organisations in the Pacific and Southeast Asia to build resilient, equitable and inclusive health systems.
It adds to our existing support for malaria elimination, including through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance, and the Innovative Vector Control Consortium.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:
“Malaria is not only a threat to the health and wellbeing of communities in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, it also impacts education, tourism and economic growth.
“Investing in our partnerships with our region and its capacity to test and treat malaria is clearly in Australia’s interest.”
Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:
“The Australian Government is supporting the development of new health tools and skills to fight malaria at every stage.
“We are investing to support our region with better surveillance, better control to prevent infections, better diagnostics to detect cases, and better medications so people with malaria receive the best possible care.”