Over 2,000 Deaths In 2024 Are Malaria Related

By Fatmata Mohamed Bangura
Head of Malaria Epidemiology and Surveillance at the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), Musa Sillah Kanu has stated that Sierra Leone recorded over 2,000 deaths of malaria cases in 2024.
He made this statement on Wednesday 23rd April 2025 at the National Malaria Conference Room, New England Ville Central Medical Store in Freetown while talking to the press.
“Sierra Leone recorded 2, 789 deaths of malaria in 2024 which is 28% across the country,” he said.
During her presentation on the current status of Malaria in the country, Malaria in Pregnancy Lead at NMCP Matron Irene M. Sesay said malaria is endemic in Sierra Leone, with stable and perennial transmission throughout the country contributing to a considerable promotion of hospital consultations.
She stated that the entire population of Sierra Leone is at risk of malaria, stressing that children under-five and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.
“Malaria continues to be the leading cause of death and illness, accounting for nearly 20% of child mortality. In 2024 alone, we recorded over 2,000 reported cases of malaria,” said Matron Sesay.
She continued that World Malaria Day, observed annually on April 25th serves as a critical reminder of the need for sustained investment and ongoing stakeholder commitment to malaria prevention and control.
“Our national malaria elimination strategy, spanning from 2021 to 2025 outlines our vision to fast-track the implementation of malaria interventions and move towards a malaria-free Sierra Leone. By the end of 2025, we want to reduce malaria mortality by at least 75% compared to 2015 and to ensure that at least 90% of the population practices a minimum of three recommended malaria prevention and control measures,” she emphasized.
In order to prevent malaria, Matron Sesay said in 2024 they did a massive distribution of intermittent treated net across the country and also did prompt diagnosis with malaria rapid diagnostic test and microscopy.
She said that significant efforts have been made to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality and that these efforts have resulted in a significant reduction in under-5 malaria case incidence from 754 in 2023 to 603 in 2024 per 1000 population, but that inpatient deaths increase from 84 in 2023 to 88 per 100,000 populations in 2024.
However, reaching the strategic targets set for 2025 has been challenging due to several factors: limited resources, high donor dependency, weak surveillance system, poor community and individual behaviors towards malaria prevention, she noted.
“We must accelerate our efforts by living no one behind towards archiving a malaria free Sierra Leone,” she said.