ABC News: Reflecting on Asia Pacific’s Progress and the 2025 World Malaria Report

^{This summary draws from an exclusive ABC News Pacific Beat broadcast interview published on 17 December 2025. The full episode is available here.}

‍

The latest World Malaria Report revealed Asia Pacific’s marked progress toward malaria elimination in 2024, presenting a canvas of both significant gains and setbacks. Speaking to ABC News, Dr. Sarthak Das, Chief Executive Officer of APLMA, discussed the region’s complex trajectory towards elimination, including a deep dive into how countries in the Pacific region fared and the challenges that must be overcome to achieve malaria elimination goals.

Figures from the latest World Malaria Report illustrated a significant downward trend for Asia Pacific, with a reduction of over 725,000 malaria cases in 2024. Notably, over half of the region’s endemic countries reported decline in cases. However, despite these broader malaria gains that the region has achieved, the outlook for the Pacific region stands in stark contrast.

Dr. Das noted that within the Pacific region, while Vanuatu saw an approximately 30% decline in cases, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Solomon Islands experienced significant increases in both malaria cases and deaths. At present, PNG continues to bear the vast majority of the malaria burden within the WHO Western Pacific Region, highlighting an urgent need for intensified action.

Addressing the challenges that threaten to stall hard-won progress, particularly in the Pacific region, the volatility of international global health funding remains a central concern. With many countries in the Pacific still heavily reliant on external funding sources like the Global Fund, ensuring sustainable financing is a strategic necessity that must be addressed to ensure continuity of malaria elimination efforts.

‍

Amidst these mounting challenges, the interplay between climate change and the shifting patterns of vector transmission is an emerging trend, demanding renewed vigilance and adaptive strategies. Addressing this shifting landscape, Dr. Das stressed the urgency of doubling down on elimination efforts before environmental shifts and changes in vector behavior outpace the effectiveness of current interventions.

Looking ahead, the focus for the Pacific region and beyond remains clear. It is imperative to safeguard the gains that the region has made towards the 2030 elimination goal, and to accelerate progress through sustained political commitment, financing, and coordinated, collective action across Asia Pacific and beyond.

Note:

“Cases” in this article corresponds to “estimated cases” as reported in the 2025 World Malaria Report, unless stated otherwise. The full report is accessible through the WHO official website at https://www.who.int/teams/global-malaria-programme/reports/world-malaria-report-2025.