Biomedical interventions alone will not eliminate disease in Africa
WE RECENTLY observed World Malaria Day. The theme for 2025 “Malaria ends with us: reinvest, reimagine, reignite” emphasises the need for a holistic approach to combat this devastating disease. A Planetary Health paradigm offers a possible way forward. Planetary Health calls for solutions that recognise the interconnectedness of human health, ecological systems, climate change, migration, population dynamics, infrastructure, and governance.
Such an approach could be key in the battle against malaria, which continues to be a significant health problem in Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan regions, where 94% of global cases and 95% of deaths occur. Children under 5 years old are the hardest hit. In South Africa, malaria transmission picks up in summer and autumn (October to May), mainly in Limpopo,…
