The ongoing conflict in Ethiopia’s Oromia region has significantly worsened the malaria crisis, leading to increased mortality rates. Lack of access to essential medications, compounded by climate change, creates a dire situation for local farmers. As malaria cases continue to surge, diminishing aid funding further challenges efforts to address the outbreak and protect the health of vulnerable populations.
In Ethiopia’s Oromia region, the landscape of conflict and climate change has led to a dramatic surge in malaria-related deaths, as illustrated by Lema Tefera, a farmer who lost four children to the disease in a single month due to lack of access to medication amidst ongoing violence. A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that Africa experiences approximately 95 percent of the 250 million global malaria cases and over 600,000 fatalities annually.
Since 2018, conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) has severely disrupted health services in Oromia, leading to increased vulnerability among subsistence farmers. According to medical professionals and humanitarian workers, the combination of escalating violence and climate change forms a “perfect storm” that exacerbates health crises. Lema, who resides in the village of Lalistu Lophi, described the turmoil he faces, stating, “It was the worst situation I have ever experienced.”
The WHO reported that Ethiopia saw around 7.3 million malaria cases and 1,157 deaths from January to October the previous year, with the figures having nearly doubled since 2023. The Oromia region, which covers over a third of the country, now accounts for almost half of the nation’s malaria cases and mortality rates. According to Gemechu Biftu, executive director of the Oromia Physicians Association, ongoing armed conflicts have hindered access to crucial anti-malarial drugs.
Legesse Bulcha, director of Nejo General Hospital, observed a staggering increase in malaria cases. Malaria now constitutes 70 percent of the hospital’s 26,000 patients; previously, it never exceeded 20 percent. Both Legesse and Gemechu noted that climate change has intensified the situation, creating ideal conditions for malaria-carrying mosquitoes and leading to an increase in malaria cases even during traditionally dry months.
Rachelle Seguin, the coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Ethiopia, emphasized that 2024 has witnessed unprecedented malaria case numbers, attributing the crisis to increasing temperatures and prolonged conflict. As the rainy season approaches, concerns grow that conditions may worsen, especially with a recent freeze on U.S. aid funding that has traditionally supported malaria control efforts significantly.
The abrupt halt to U.S. assistance, which has provided around 40 percent of the global funding for malaria research and control, poses grave threats to health outcomes. Nuredin Luke, a local doctor based in Oromia, expressed that this funding cut would heighten morbidity and mortality rates associated with malaria and other diseases. Lema, left in despair after losing his children, has struggled to cope with his grief and relies on family for survival, stating, “I have been completely depressed.”
The situation in Ethiopia’s Oromia region underscores the catastrophic impacts of armed conflict and climate change on public health, particularly concerning malaria. With healthcare systems suffering from disruptions due to ongoing violence, the inability to access vital medications has led to a tragic increase in malaria cases and fatalities. The compounded effects of conflict, a volatile climate, and reduced funding from international aid pose significant threats to the health and well-being of vulnerable populations such as Lema Tefera and many others. Without urgent intervention and support, future prospects for controlling malaria and safeguarding lives in this region remain bleak.
Original Source: www.malaymail.com
