Health
World Leaders Warn About 300,000 Malaria Deaths Without Critical Funding
By Adedapo Adesanya
Heads of State and Government gathering at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have warned that funding for malaria must be increased to prevent the number of cases and deaths rising, ahead of the Global Fund Replenishment due in 2025.
Their warning follows new modelling conducted by the Malaria Atlas Project, which revealed that an additional 300,000 lives are in jeopardy. The project was commissioned by The RBM Partnership to End Malaria.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is one of the primary sources of funding for the control and elimination of all three diseases. It is largely funded by governments and pools the world’s resources to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, raising and investing money in three-year cycles known as Replenishments.
However, recent political and economic development is threatening this pooling.
There is an estimated gap of more than $1.5 billion to sustain services at 2023 levels; but with new challenges, advocates noted that this will not be enough to get the fight against malaria back on track.
Already, insecticide and anti-malarial drug resistance are on the rise, reducing the effectiveness of existing malaria interventions. There are now highly effective new tools, such as dual-insecticide mosquito nets, that address resistance but the costs to roll out these interventions are higher. Climate change and humanitarian crises are also coinciding with deadly effects and leave those affected even worse off and more vulnerable to malaria.
The situation will be even worse if the total Global Fund Replenishment sees a cut to resources and takes funding away from malaria.
The new models show that if there is a flatlining of malaria resources (with the Global Fund Replenishment again achieving approximately $15.6 billion in total and allocations across the three diseases remaining on par with the current cycle), the world could see an additional 112 million malaria cases and up to 280,700 additional deaths across the three-year period, with upsurges and outbreaks happening right across the continent of Africa.
In the event of a lower replenishment of $11 billion, and a reduction in the malaria allocation, the modelling forecasts we can expect an estimated 137.2 million additional malaria cases and up to 337,000 additional malaria deaths.
The new projections were raised yesterday by President Umaro Sissocco Embaló of Guinea Bissau at a fireside chat convened by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance. There, leaders expressed concerns that malaria will quickly resurge if appropriate action is not taken in this Replenishment cycle.
On his part, Dr Michael Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, said “The evidence is clear that there is a significant risk of malaria epidemics if funding isn’t increased and high-burden areas are unable to deliver critical malaria prevention services. Unlike HIV and TB, malaria is concentrated in lower-income countries, particularly across Africa, so often these countries have the least ability to afford the fight. Everyone, no matter where they live, has a right to health. Malaria is straining health systems and making it difficult for people in low-income countries to fully enjoy their right to health.”
“Allocating the funds from the Global Fund Replenishment is complex, as of course all three diseases urgently need attention. But malaria must receive an increase in its funding from the Global Fund if we are to avoid a wide-scale resurgence. If this doesn’t happen, we can expect cases to spike and increased mortality.
We already know this will impact women and young children hardest, as they are disproportionately affected by the disease. It will also push more people into poverty and overwhelm already fragile health systems, with economic consequences that will ripple across the world.
“We simply cannot afford to let this happen. The world has to ensure our most vulnerable populations are not further disadvantaged and to do this we need to ensure the right funding is in place, starting with the global fund replenishment,” he added.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
About 10,000 primary school pupils have been enrolled by the Oyo State government for its healthcare insurance programme as part of efforts towards ensuring the children are of sound minds.
The beneficiaries were chosen from 90 schools across 18 local government areas of the state, and were presented their insurance scheme ID cards on Thursday at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi-ape, Ibadan, by the Deputy Governor, Mr Bayo Lawal.
He applauded the partnership and collaboration between the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) and the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) in providing healthcare opportunities to public school children in the state.
“This scheme will ensure that our children have sound minds, while they learn in conducive environments.
“This event is a collective effort in securing a brighter future of Oyo State pupils,” the deputy governor said.
Mr Lawal also charged OYSHIA to double its efforts in extending the scheme to every school in the State, urging parents and guardians to key into the scheme.
In her goodwill message, the Chief of UNICEF in the Lagos Field Office, Ms Celine Lafoucriere, noted that the launch of the Oyo State Public Primary School Pupils Health Insurance Scheme would give access to affordable, quality healthcare; a fundamental right for every child.
“This initiative reinforces our collective commitment to universal health coverage, ensuring that no child faces financial obstacles to accessing healthcare.
“Universal health coverage is more than a healthcare goal—it’s a social and economic necessity. When children have access to healthcare, they can focus on education, grow into productive adults, break the cycle of poverty, and contribute to the success of Oyo State and Nigeria.
“This scheme exemplifies this by focusing on public primary school children, especially in hard-to-reach areas. With 90 schools already enrolled across 18 LGAs, our goal is to ensure all 33 LGAs in Oyo state are covered, leaving no child behind.
“UNICEF remains steadfast in supporting the government and communities toward universal health coverage,” she stated.
On her part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, applauded OYSHIA and OYOSUBEB for their commitment towards healthy basic school pupils, assuring them of her Ministry’s unparalleled commitment to the scheme.
Also speaking, the Chairman of OYOSUBEB, Mr Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, applauded OYSHIA, pledging the board’s commitment to the smooth take-off and sustainability of the scheme.
“At OYOSUBEB, we operate on the principle of taking care of the pupils under our care as though they are ours,” he said, adding that the scheme would enable the beneficiaries to receive quality healthcare without paying exorbitantly to access it.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of OYSHIA, Dr Olusola Akande, said the new door being opened today, is focusing on providing access to healthcare for 10,000 public primary school pupils in the first instance, noting that the agency will also commence an enrolment of additional 5,500 pupils into the scheme from next week.
He praised UNICEF, through whose support the agency has been able to improve on its awareness campaign and increased the communities under the Community Based Health Insurance scheme by 100 per cent.
He equally stressed the unparalleled commitment of SUBEB chairman to the scheme, stating, “His open door policy and unrestricted access ensured we were able to keep to our timeline.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
A venture capital fund focused on consumer health startups that are reshaping the future of healthcare, naturalX Health Ventures has announced a €100 million fund to accelerate this revolution in Europe.
This makes the fund the first specialized fund focused exclusively on the intersection of consumer and health in the European market.
The fund will focus primarily on Series-A investments while remaining flexible to participate in late Seed and Series-B rounds. Typical first investments range from €3-5 million, with up to €10 million available per company.
To companies, naturalX can act as either lead investor or co-investor, targeting consumer health startups across Europe with selected investments in North America.
naturalX was founded by Mr Marvin Amberg, a German serial entrepreneur with experience launching consumer and health startups, in cooperation with Schwabe Group, a global leader in plant-based pharmaceuticals. The fund defines consumer health as the intersection of wellness and medicine, where science-backed products and services put the consumer in focus.
During its 18-month ramp-up phase, naturalX has already made several investments, including mybacs, Flow Neuroscience, Kyan Health, and Meela, while also investing in healthcare-focused VC funds to build a strong ecosystem around their thesis.
Speaking on the development, the founder of the firm, Mr Marvin Amberh “I am very excited to double down on our thesis with the official launch of naturalX. The consumer health space has been overlooked by investors.”
“We see an inflection point in Europe now, as consumers are finally taking more charge of their own health. Startups in the space need a partner with a shared vision,” he added.
The fund’s launch comes at a pivotal moment in consumer health after the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated consumers focus on proactive health management, further boosted by easier access to data through technology, including AI.
naturalX targets solutions across proactive health, including sleep, gut health, prevention, and longevity. The fund also places special emphasis on mental health, recognizing the growing need for consumer-centric therapeutic solutions in this underserved area.
The investment strategy bridges Schwabe Group’s deep pharmaceutical expertise with modern digital health innovation.
“We analysed the US health market and in many successful startups, the consumer is already at the centre. Our thesis is that this is just the beginning, and the European market will develop in a similar pattern. While we start to see some examples of consumer-focused healthcare companies in Europe reaching meaningful scale and significant funding, such as Oura or Neko Health, we think this market deserves more attention,” added Mr Amberg.
“naturalX led our Series-A round and has been an exceptional partner, bringing not only capital but also invaluable knowledge of the nutritional supplement and broader consumer health market. Their pragmatic, fast decision-making allows us to focus on growing our business,” said Mr Carl-Philipp von Polheim, Founder of mybacs, a leading DTC probiotic subscription startup.
“At Kyan Health, we are dedicated to proactive mental health management—empowering individuals before issues escalate. naturalX shares this vision, recognizing that prevention is key to lasting impact. Their deep expertise and strategic approach make them an ideal partner in driving meaningful change for millions,” said Mr Vlad Gheorghiu, Founder of Kyan Health, a leading mental health platform for employees.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Some medical items worth about N1.6 billion have been donated by MultiChoice Nigeria to the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN) located in Lagos.
The medical supplies were given by the leading pay TV provider as part of its commitment to improving healthcare delivery in the country.
This initiative underscores the dedication of MultiChoice, which operates the popular DStv and GOtv, to making a meaningful impact through strategic partnerships that address critical healthcare challenges and enriching lives of vulnerable populations across Africa.
“We remain dedicated to improving the well-being of our communities through strategic interventions that create a lasting impact.
“The Sickle Cell Foundation plays a crucial role in advancing healthcare for individuals living with sickle cell disorder, and we are proud to support their important mission with this donation,” the chief executive of MultiChoice West Africa, Mr John Ugbe, said.
It was gathered that the vital medical items donated included personal protective equipment (PPE) isolation gowns, test kits, and medical infrared thermometers.
They are aimed at supporting the foundation’s ongoing efforts to provide healthcare services to individuals living with sickle cell disorder and enhancing preparedness for medical emergencies across their nationwide partner hospital network.
The chief executive of SCFN, Dr Annette Akinsete, while receiving the items, commended MultiChoice for its continued support to the organisation.
“On behalf of the foundation, I appreciate MultiChoice for this gesture. This is a big deal to us. MultiChoice has always been a huge supporter of the Foundation, and we appreciate what you have done and are still doing.
“A bulk of these items will go to Massey Street Children’s Hospital and some will be sent to our partner hospitals across the country,” the medical practitioner said.
Recall that in 2009, MultiChoice Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the SCFN. It has continued to support the foundation through various interventions including donation of vehicles, partnership on counselling workshops, fundraising and broadcast of awareness documentaries on key facts about sickle cell disease on its DStv and GOtv platforms.
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