Explain how an increase in the number of malaria infections would affect the south african economy?

Question: Explain how an increase in the number of malaria infections would affect the south african economy?

Malaria is a parasitic disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes and affects millions of people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, there were 229 million cases of malaria and 409,000 deaths in 2019, mostly in Africa. Malaria not only causes human suffering and loss of life, but also has a significant economic impact on the affected countries and regions.

South Africa is one of the countries that aims to eliminate malaria within its borders by 2023. Malaria elimination means interrupting local transmission of the parasite and preventing reintroduction from neighbouring countries. South Africa has made remarkable progress in reducing malaria cases and deaths over the past two decades, thanks to effective vector control, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance strategies. However, malaria elimination is still a challenging goal that requires sustained political commitment, financial resources and cross-border collaboration.

The economic benefits of malaria elimination in South Africa are substantial and outweigh the costs of achieving it. A recent study estimated that the total economic burden of malaria in South Africa was R 3.69 billion (USD 223.3 million) over an 11-year period (2018–2029) under a business-as-usual scenario, where current interventions are maintained. However, if South Africa adopts an accelerated scenario, where interventions are scaled up to achieve elimination by 2023, the economic burden would increase to R 4.88 billion (USD 295.5 million), but the benefits would be much higher: R 8.67 billion (USD 525 million) in terms of avoided health costs, productivity gains and tourism revenues. This means that for every rand invested in malaria elimination, South Africa would gain R 1.77 in return.

The highest economic benefits would be achieved if South Africa implements a source reduction scenario, where interventions are not only scaled up within the country, but also in southern Mozambique, which is the main source of imported malaria cases. Under this scenario, the economic burden would rise to R 6.34 billion (~ USD 384 million), but the benefits would reach R 15.29 billion (~ USD 925 million), resulting in a return on investment of R 2.41 per rand spent.

Malaria elimination in South Africa is feasible and economically worthwhile, but it requires coordinated action and investment from multiple sectors and stakeholders, including health, finance, development, trade and tourism. By eliminating malaria, South Africa would not only improve the health and well-being of its people, but also contribute to regional and global efforts to eradicate this deadly disease.