WHO warns clinic stockouts will worsen malaria season without urgent resupply
A third of health clinics surveyed in high-burden districts are reporting stockouts of antimalarials and rapid diagnostic tests at the peak of transmission season.
A survey of health facilities in high-burden districts has found that one in three clinics is currently reporting stockouts of antimalarials or rapid diagnostic tests — at the very peak of malaria transmission season.
WHO is warning that without urgent resupply, preventable child deaths will rise sharply over the next eight weeks.
Key findings
- 34% of clinics reported at least one stockout in the past 30 days
- Longest-running gaps were in injectable artesunate and paediatric formulations
- Community health workers reported treating suspected cases without a confirmed diagnosis
What partners are doing
- WHO is redistributing stocks between districts and activating surge procurement.
- UNICEF is delivering 2.4 million child-friendly doses in the coming weeks.
- The Global Fund has approved an emergency release of rapid diagnostic tests.
“We have the tools to prevent these deaths. What we lack is the last-mile logistics and predictable funding.”
Call to donors
The malaria response needs an additional $60 million before October to sustain bed-net distribution, seasonal chemoprevention and supply chain strengthening. Agencies stress that the window to act is now.