Pakistan Faces Climate-Driven Malaria Spike: WHO

News Desk 

Islamabad: As Pakistan battles an alarming surge in malaria cases — now surpassing 2 million annually — global health experts are warning that the crisis reflects a deeper, systemic vulnerability: the country’s health infrastructure is dangerously unprepared for climate-driven diseases.

In a joint alert issued on World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services attributed the escalating malaria burden to worsening climate impacts, particularly rising temperatures and frequent floods. 

They called for urgent investment in building a climate-resilient healthcare system capable of preventing and responding to outbreaks worsened by environmental shocks.

The WHO’s theme for 2025, “Reinvest, Reimagine, Renew,” underscores this shift — moving beyond traditional disease control toward robust, adaptive health systems that can withstand the pressures of a changing climate.

“Pakistan’s 2022 floods created a breeding ground for malaria, adding 6.6 million cases over two years,” said a WHO representative. “Without a climate-responsive approach, such public health emergencies will become the norm.”

The latest figures show Pakistan reported 2.7 million malaria cases in 2023, a staggering rise from 399,000 cases just two years prior. In the broader WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, malaria cases climbed to 12 million in 2023 — a 137% jump since 2015.

While progress has been made — including screening over 11.4 million suspected cases in 2024 and distributing 7.8 million insecticide-treated nets — health experts warn that emergency responses alone are insufficient. They emphasize the need for preventive infrastructure, such as resilient drainage systems, climate-adapted housing, and expanded community health services, particularly in vulnerable regions like Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Dr. Palitha Mahipala, WHO Representative in Pakistan, stressed, “Malaria elimination is possible, but only if we recognize climate change as a health crisis. We must integrate climate risk planning into every level of health policy.”

Insecurity, poverty, and limited healthcare access continue to compound the crisis in several provinces. According to WHO’s monitoring of 5,575 health facilities across 80 districts, areas affected by conflict or poverty saw the sharpest spikes in malaria cases.

The Pakistani government, supported by WHO and the Global Fund, has pledged to expand investment in both malaria prevention and climate adaptation. However, experts caution that without sustained, coordinated action at national and provincial levels, the gains may be short-lived.

Public health leaders now view Pakistan’s malaria battle as a critical test: whether the country can pivot quickly enough to protect its citizens from the growing intersection of climate and health threats.

“The message is clear: climate change is not just an environmental issue — it’s a direct, urgent threat to human health,” said Dr Mahipala. “Pakistan’s future depends on how boldly it responds.”