The idea that malaria is linked to the US economy was underscored in a report that indicated how much the disease threatens the US bottom line, damages supply systems, and sidelines Africa.
The problem of malaria
In 2023, there were an anticipated 263 million malaria cases globally, accounting for around 597,000 fatalities.
The African region bears the vast majority of this burden, accounting for 94% of all malaria cases and 95% of global malaria deaths.
Children under five remain the most vulnerable, accounting for nearly 76% of all malaria deaths in the region that year.
The disease’s impact is most concentrated in a few countries.
In 2023, Nigeria alone accounted for 25.9 percent of malaria cases in Africa, followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.6%), Uganda (4.8%), Ethiopia (3.6%), and Mozambique (3.5%).
Nigeria had a much higher mortality rate, accounting for 30.9 percent of malaria deaths.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo followed with 11.3%, Niger with 5.9%, and Tanzania with 4.3%. These countries accounted for more than half of the global malaria load.
More than just the mortality malaria causes, it also impairs economic growth, preventing a lot of African nations from hitting their full fiscal potential.
Given the government and private sector investment coming from the United States, there are now numerical values attached to the loss malaria engenders.
According to a report titled “Ending Malaria is a US$4 Trillion Business Opportunity for the U.S. and Africa,” malaria is a huge deterrent to productivity on the continent.
“African economies lose $12 billion annually to malaria. This ‘malaria tax’ directly hits U.S. companies operating across the continent, creating a cascade of business disruptions that few businesses fully understand,” the report states.
This deadly illness, which has caused the loss of millions of lives for decades, also severely reduces worker productivity by increasing absenteeism and decreasing productivity.
A worker in Africa is liable to miss one to ten days of work during a normal malaria episode, and they frequently return to work fatigued and less productive.
The solution to malaria-related economic issues
Making investments in combating malaria gives companies doing business in Africa an array of strategic advantages that improve their competitiveness and market access.
Effective malaria-prevention initiatives strengthen commercial ties, positively boost operations, and set up businesses for long-term success in African markets, according to reports from major corporations.
As per the report, there is a significant return on investment in controlling malaria, given how much it affects productivity on the continent.
The exact figure is pegged at $4 trillion, should Africa hit the 2030 global malaria goals, in which case, an increase in economic output of more than US$4 trillion between 2016 and 2030 will be generated.
“Every dollar the U.S. invests in African malaria control returns $5.80 in economic growth, outperforming most Wall Street investments.
With $126.9 billion in untapped GDP waiting to be unlocked through malaria elimination, this represents one of the largest business opportunities hiding in plain sight,” the report states.
“The choice for the U.S. is simple: lead this $4 trillion market transformation or watch competitors capture the returns.
Malaria is not just a health issue; it’s a high-stakes economic and strategic threat that taxes the U.S. bottom line, weakens supply chains, and sidelines Africa,” it adds.
Figures to back investment in malaria prevention
“U.S. investment in malaria control has demonstrated a significant and quantifiable Return on Investment (ROI), benefiting both recipient African countries and the U.S. economy,” the Malaria Economics report states.
“For example, Equatorial Guinea (Marathon Oil), Ghana (AngloGold Ashanti), Mozambique (BHP Billiton), and Zambia (three copper mining companies) are case studies highlighting proven, measurable outcomes with robust data collection over sustained periods.
They saw an excellent ROI with significant reductions in malaria-related illness, deaths, worker absenteeism, and spending,” it adds.
For US firms doing business in Africa, investing in malaria control has an enormous beneficial effect on operations and workers.
According to the report, reducing malaria investments in Africa might result in a series of losses that would outweigh present spending, putting the U.S. government at a crucial juncture.
This is a particularly important conversation given the U.S’s recent dip in aid disbursement.
Trump’s aid cuts
U.S. President Donald Trump chose to halt the distribution of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds for 90 days in January, just after taking office.
Since then, there has been a significant shift in the way that fund is disbursed to developing nations, given that some other lenders have chosen to emulate Trump.
The U.S president’s decision has affected funding intended to combat serious illnesses in Africa, including Ebola, HIV, and, of course, malaria.
Prior to the aid cuts, in 2024, USAID allocated almost $188 million to overseas development and capital investment, approximately $290 million to expanding access to vaccinations and immunizations, and more than $2.3 billion to combat AIDS, TB, and malaria globally.
Founded in 1961 during the Cold War, USAID’s top three partners in 2024 were the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria ($2.3 billion), the World Food Program ($3.4 billion), and the World Bank Group ($4 billion).
In response, Philanthropist Bill Gates, in September, announced that the Gates Foundation will contribute $912 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Bill Gates’s pledge underscores how malaria has evolved from a health concern to an economic one.
The United States can safeguard supply chains, lower risks, and take advantage of a $4 trillion opportunity by supporting Africa’s fight against it.
What appeared to be help has turned into an astute and unorthodox strategic investment.
