Day of the African Woman 2025 

Last year the World Malaria Report 2024 revealed that malaria continues to deepen economic and educational inequalities between men and women. As we celebrate African women today, it is important that we ensure this struggle is no longer overlooked.  

Women make up 70% of the global workforce and when family members fall ill, they are expected to give up work to become primary care givers. In many cases girls have to take time away from school to take care of sick relatives. Women are directly affected by the loss of educational opportunities and therefore slowed career progression that malaria causes.  

According to a report published in 2021 by RBM – Partnership to End Malaria and Malaria No more, women simultaneously serve as the vanguard of the global fight against the disease—in the public sphere as healthcare and vector-control workers, as community leaders and advocates, as leaders in the malaria community, and at home, as mothers and caretakers themselves. Their roles related to malaria are multifold and time intensive. 

“Health centres are overwhelmed right now, and this affects women much more because they are the ones who manage the household“

Madame Marceline Soalla/Tou, Head of an association in Burkina Faso

As we strive to eliminate malaria, we must not ignore how disproportionately it effects women. Their experiences and insights are crucial to understanding the impacts of this disease.  

We must continue to uplift the voices of African women to build a malaria free future. 

Watch the full Voices from the field series to hear directly from the communities and the women impacted by malaria.