Travel Health Group Malaria Impact Report 2024
Our BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal): a malaria-free world by 2030
A bold ambition aligned with the goals of the WHO. For over 20 years, we’ve been dedicated to this mission—distributing mosquito nets where they’re needed most, educating communities on proper use, and supporting scientific research on the use of mosquito nets.
By 2030, we aim to multiply our impact tenfold. It’s a big goal, but one worth striving for. To get there, we’ve identified key pillars where we want to grow and make an even greater difference.
We invite you to scroll down to explore our these key pillars and contributions in 2024 and how we’re working towards a malaria-free world.
World Malaria Report
Every year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) publishes the World Malaria Report, which provides insights into the latest trends in malaria control and elimination at global, national and regional levels. The report describes progress towards global goals and describes opportunities and challenges in reducing and eradicating this disease.
Even though significant progress has been made in recent years, malaria remains a major global health challenge, affecting millions worldwide and significantly impacting human lives and socio-economic development.
Key results:
Globally, an estimated 2.2 billion cases and 12.7 million deaths have been prevented since 2000. In 2023 alone, more than 177 million cases and 1 million deaths were averted worldwide. As of December 2024, 44 countries and one region have been certified malaria-free by WHO.
However still, there were an estimated 263 million new malaria cases reported in 83 endemic countries or regions in 2023. The number of estimated deaths from malaria was 597,000 in 2023, down slightly compared the 600,000 deaths in 2022.
The African Region accounted for an estimated 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of malaria-related deaths in 2023. About two thirds of global malaria cases and deaths are concentrated in 11 African countries, amongst others Uganda. These countries have adopted the “High Burden High Impact” strategy that uses local data and disease patterns to deliver tailored interventions to the most at-risk populations. From 2015 and 2023, the African Region saw a 5% decrease in case incidence and a 16% decrease in mortality rates. However, rates in 2023 for both indicators were still more than twice the target levels set by the WHO global malaria strategy.
Positive news:
- Azerbaijan, Belize, Cabo Verde and Tajikistan were declared malaria-free in 2023, along with Egypt in October 2024 and Georgia in January 2025.
- The malaria vaccines RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) and R21/Matrix-M have been recommended by WHO for use in malaria endemic areas. Approximately 2 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi received the RTS,S vaccine between 2019 and 2023. An 13% reduction in all-cause mortality and a 22% reduction in hospitalizations of severe malaria among children age-eligible for vaccination was seen during this period.
Less good news:
- The WHO global malaria strategy aims at, amongst other goals, to reduce malaria incidences and death rates of at least 75% by 2025 and 90% by 2030 compared to the 2015 baseline levels. However unfortunately, the 2023 global malaria incidence rate of 60.4 cases per 1.000 population at risk is almost three times higher than the 21.3 cases per 1.000 needed to reach the target. Furthermore, there were 13.7 malaria deaths per 100.000 population at risk in 2023, more than twice the target of 5.5 deaths per 100.000.
- Humanitarian emergencies can displace populations and negatively affect healthcare systems. In 2023, an estimated 80 million people in malaria-endemic countries were internally displaced persons (IDPs) or refugees. IDPs and refugees often lack access to malaria prevention or treatment. Especially women, children and marginalized communities are disproportionately affected as they are often residing in camps or shelters without adequate malaria control, leading to higher exposure and transmission rates.
- Climate change continues to threaten progress in the fight against malaria, as rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns are impacting the health, security and livelihoods of people all around the world. The effects of climate change on malaria is particularly pronounced in regions already burdened by poverty, inadequate health infrastructure and limited access to resources. This not only increases the risk of disease exposure, but also widens existing inequalities. According to the World Health Organization, climate change is the single greatest threat to human health, and its influence on malaria is already being observed across multiple regions.
The WHO has declared climate change the primary health threat facing humanity. Rising temperatures, changed rainfall patterns and humidity can create favourable conditions for the increase in mosquito populations, expanding their geographic reach and escalating the rate of transmission. Additionally, these conditions can also result in the formation of breeding environments favourable for mosquitoes and worsening the dynamics of disease transmission.
The impact of climate change on malaria is particularly pronounced in regions already burdened by poverty, inadequate healthcare infrastructure and limited access to resources, further increasing the risks of harmful exposure to diseases and widening existing inequalities.
The latest numbers
malaria cases in 2023
malaria deaths in 2023**
Nets distributed (2024)*
*with our 2024 outreach in Uganda.
** Source: WHO. While the report does not provide specific estimates for 2024, it notes that the number of malaria deaths in 2023 was nearly the same as in 2022, indicating a plateau in progress.
Our contribution in 2024
Pillar 1: Growth in the number of nets in use
A powerful weapon in the fight against malaria, our mosquito nets are purchased and printed locally in Kampala, Uganda. Through various partners, the nets are distributed and handed out personally to the people who need them most. Working with local partners and our partnerships are crucial to the goals we want to achieve. These partnerships enabled us to distribute as many as 12,050 nets in 2024. A growth of almost 10% compared to 2023, were we distributed 11,000 nets.
The Uganda Coffee Farmer Alliance (UCFA) is an important existing relationship. This cooperative ensures that coffee beans are collected from farmers far into remote areas. These coffee farmers often lack access to resources for malaria protection. Using its logistics system, trucks with nets out, and trucks with coffee beans back, we can distribute the nets at a relatively low cost.
In addition, she held entertaining conversations with several possible new partners.
Below you can find an interview with Corine to read more about the activities during this outreach.
Interview with Corine Schmal, CEO at Care Plus® about her visit to Uganda in October 2024
Where were you in Uganda during the outreach in November and what was the main purpose of your trip?
In November 2024, the first group of five THG employees went on outreach. In collaboration with Rotary Uganda, a medical outreach was organized on the Ssese Islands. In addition to distributing the printed nets, various medicines were also distributed and a dentist was present for necessary check-ups.
The purpose of this trip was twofold: to gain firsthand insight into the projects Travel Health Group has been supporting in Uganda for several years and to foster new partnerships while deepening existing ones. This year we visited the
Our outreach efforts, conducted in collaboration with the Uganda Coffee Farmers Association (UCFA), spanned two days, with visits to the Mityana and Luwero regions. Working with UCFA, we acquired printed mosquito nets from Twiga, the local printing factory, and distributed them at various locations, including smaller villages. These distributions were complemented by education sessions on malaria prevention and the importance of sleeping underneath a mosquito net.
Can you elaborate on any other collaborations or partnerships formed with local organizations during the outreach?
Beyond the outreach activities, I engaged in meetings with key partners, including Twiga, and we attended gatherings hosted by two chapters of the Rotary Club, of which from the Ssesse Islands where we had previously distributed mosquito nets in partnership with the Rotary in October 2023. Attending Rotary meetings facilitated fruitful discussions and connections with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including representatives from the Ministry of Health, who are actively involved in malaria prevention efforts.
Moreover, we started conversations with the Ugandan Red Cross which has great potential for an impactful collaboration. Our discussions focused on expanding beyond traditional interventions and delving into research initiatives. Leveraging their extensive network, we aim to broaden our reach engaging additional partners so that we can increase our impact together.
So what are the main insights you have learned during these meetings?
In my discussions with various stakeholders, such as the Red Cross and local farmers, I gained valuable insights into the specific needs of the communities we serve. Particularly the conversations with local women, who expressed interest in receiving assistance and education within their homes to improve malaria prevention practices. This contrasts with Western attitudes, where we may be more reluctant to accept help in our households.
Realizing this cultural gap highlighted how crucial it is to adjust our actions to match the needs and customs of the communities we serve. We saw that getting involved at the household level could really make a difference in how well our efforts work. By giving local community workers the tools to offer specific help and education, we can make sure families know how to fight malaria effectively.
Therefore, as we plan our next steps, it’s important that our initiatives go beyond distributing mosquito nets. In addition, we need to focus on building strong, sustainable networks of support within local communities, empowering individuals and families to take charge of their health and well-being. By taking a proactive and holistic approach to malaria prevention, we can make meaningful progress toward eradicating this disease and improving the lives of those most affected.
Can you describe the local community’s living conditions in the area where the outreach took place?
The living conditions in the local communities where our outreaches took place are quite basic. While I haven’t had the chance to see many homes from the inside, I’ve observed that families typically live in small, condensed spaces. In these areas, it’s common for an entire family, including parents and multiple children, to share a single area for sleeping, cooking and living. Because of this close living arrangement, it’s essential for each family member to have a mosquito net, as they may not all sleep in the same bed.
Given the compact nature of the housing, much of daily life takes place outdoors, with people spending their days working on their land. As part of our malaria program, we emphasize the importance of seeking shelter indoors from dusk to dawn (when the anopheles mosquito is active) and taking measures to minimize mosquito breeding in and around homes. Together with the UCFA we provide education to create healthier living environments, by addressing factors that contribute to mosquito breeding, such as stagnant water and certain vegetation in their gardens in order to reduce the risk of malaria transmission in the community.
What impact do you believe the printed nets will have on the community’s daily life?
We’ve gathered insights through interviews with local farmers and our distribution experiences. Firstly, the printed coffee related images on the mosquito net is a daily reminder for farmers that it is important to stay healthy while they work on their crops. This connection between their livelihood and their health encourages them to prioritize their well-being, sleeping under a mosquito net and ultimately leading to fewer cases of malaria.
Moreover, our nets stand out for their superior quality compared to those distributed by the government. They are soft, free from strong odors from impregnation, and easy to handle. This high quality not only enhances comfort but also practicality, as farmers can easily remove and reinstall the nets as needed throughout the day.
But most important, the economic benefits of reduced malaria cases are significant. When farmers and their children remain healthy, they can go to school and work, leading to increased productivity and income. This economic stability enables access to various benefits, contributing to improvements in both economic and social aspects of their lives.
Pillar 2 – Support scientific research
In practice, we have learned that printing the nets with important images such as a butterfly, Nelson Mandela or Jesus Christ ensures longer use. The net gets more value and is less likely to be used for other purposes such as a fishing net, chicken run or agricultural fence. We value spreading our experiences. We have therefore launched a scientific study in cooperation with Radboud University Nijmegen. This research is led by the research agency Survey 54, which has specific experience in interviewing local populations in Uganda.
1. Drafting survey questions
2. Coordinating with the Radboud University ethics committee
3. Run pilot study
4. Start of 3 research rounds
5. Analyse results
5. Analyse results
Performing research in the kinds of rural area’s comes with challenges. We want to make sure that our data is as reliable as possible therefor at this point (April 2025), in consultation with Radboud University, for the next phase, it was decided to partner with a local university to ensure that the research would produce the most reliable analyses.
Pillar 3: Step up in reporting and governance
A malaria-free world is a goal we have actively supported since 2000 by donating 1% of Care Plus® and Moustifluid brand sales. In 2023, we decided to reorganize the donation structure to enable us to make more impact in our BHAG with Travel Health Group.
To achieve our own goal of increasing our impact tenfold by 2023, we want other donation partners to join our cause. This requires transparency. We therefore provide clarity on our balance sheet around the malaria-free world in this impact report. We also included an extra item in our annual financial report in which we record our spending on the goal of a malaria-free world. Naturally, this report is publicly available.
In the past years, we have seen a huge growth in the number of nets distributed. To raise awareness of the impact of malaria and meet our target, we invested in new footage. Together with local film crews, we filmed and photographed during two outreaches.
Malaria remains one of the most lethal diseases globally, significantly affecting human health, economic stability and national development. Despite being preventable and eradicable, it continues to pose a severe threat. If you are eager to contribute to our efforts or have suggestions or ideas to share, we welcome your input! Please don’t hesitate to contact us via the contact form.