Malaria Case Management and SBC Capacity Statement: Malawi

Malawi is among the top 20 countries with the highest malaria mortality rates including among Malawian children 5-14 years old. In 2022, there were 4,527,729 malaria cases and the disease contributed to 1,829 deaths. The disease contributed to 19% of all outpatient visits, 9% of all hospitalizations and 15% of deaths (all ages) in the same year. It is estimated that school children experience equivalent to 2.1 million total attacks per year and are at increased risk of malaria infection compared with younger children, as they are less likely to sleep under bed nets than any other age group, and they are also less likely to be brought for
any type of malaria treatment.

Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) usage among school children is lower (38%) than that for under 5 children (56%) or other HH members. However, the country’s efforts to combat malaria targets under 5 children and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, leaving behind this equally affected age group i.e school aged children.

In Malawi, Save the Children is scaling proven, evidence-based interventions, including improved case management (with the use of rapid diagnostic tests and combination drugs); the distribution of insecticide treated nets (ITN), intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy; seasonal malaria chemoprevention for children; surveillance; the Learner treatment kit and cross-cutting programming in digital health, advocacy, SBC, and community participation approaches.