Using Traditional Medicine in New Ways: World Malaria Day

Last month, Health Ministers from countries that carry the highest burden of malaria signed the Yaounde Declaration. A pledge to accelerate malaria mortality reductions in their respective countries, and to do so “sustainably and equitably.” 

This pledge reflects the central theme of World Malaria Day this year – accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world. 

Despite sustained efforts at a national and international scale to address malaria cases and deaths, in 2022 over 600,000 people worldwide died from the disease. The same year, 249 million new cases of malaria were recorded, 94% of those in Africa. 

The burden of the disease falls disproportionately on already at risk and disadvantaged groups. Children, pregnant women, those in poverty, and people impacted by war, climate change and natural disasters. 

In 2022 an estimated 4 out of 5 malaria related deaths in Africa were among children under 5 years of age. Across the continent, poorer children are 5 times more likely to be infected with malaria than those from the wealthiest households. 

Pregnancy reduces immunity to malaria, making pregnant women more susceptible to the disease. If untreated malaria during pregnancy can cause severe anaemia, maternal death, stillbirth and premature delivery. 

While the disease continues to pose a threat to the feasibility of reducing mortality rates, there are ways to address its severity that tap into existing resources and traditional medicines. 

The Yaounde Declaration underscored the importance of providing equitable access to healthcare services in the fight against malaria. However, for many across sub-Saharan Africa, traditional healthcare facilities are simply too far away to provide both the long and short term care needed to tackle the disease. 

This lack of access is a key motivation behind Haller’s weekly community health outreaches, which provide medical care to smallholder communities in Mombasa which otherwise would not receive it. In addition to these in person outreaches, Haller works to extend access to medical information through our Haller Farmers App, which has a section dedicated to healthcare. 

Our most recent content was developed in partnership with La Maison de L’Artemisia, and specifically addresses malaria. 

La Maison de L’Artemisia is a global network dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of the medicinal properties of plants. Their primary focus has been tackling malaria through the use of Artemisia annua and afra. 

These plants have been used for centuries in China and Africa to fight against parasites. The founder of La Maison Lucile Cornet Vernet was inspired by the impact they had in helping her friend Alexandre Poussin recover from the disease. 

Since their foundation in 2013, La Maison has delivered over 8 million treatments. Enabling local communities in over 20 African countries to treat themselves with Artemisia teas at low cost, locally and effectively. 

The importance of these traditional treatments as part of the wider fight against malaria should not be underestimated. According to the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy, “Traditional Medicine, of proven quality, safety and efficacy, contributes to the goal of ensuring that all people have access to care” and “will help health care leaders to develop solutions that contribute to a broader vision of improved health and patient autonomy.” 

In order to live up to the promises made in the Yaounde Declaration, Health Ministers need to look to new ways to deliver vital information about the disease, and not turn their back on the impact traditional medicines can drive when used properly.