Today, 25 April, marks World Malaria Day. While rates of malaria are reducing globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in 2015, there were still 212 million new cases of the mosquito-borne disease. An estimated 429,000 people died, around 70 per cent of whom were children under five.
In recent months, refugees in north-western Tanzania have been suffering an increase in malaria. Tanzania is now home to over 310,200 Congolese and Burundian refugees, who are hosted in three refugee camps - Nyarugusu, Nduta and Mtendeli.
The ongoing rainy season provides the perfect conditions for mosquitos, while overcrowded and unsanitary conditions and the temporary housing of new arrivals in communal mass shelters means the illness spreads easily. Between January and March this year, MSF has treated 55,400 patients suffering from malaria in Nyaragusu and Nduta, the two camps where medical teams are working.
MSF currently runs two malaria clinics within Nyarugusu camp, from which teams test, diagnose and treat refugees. In this photo-story we follow one young patient seen by MSF.

Despite rates of malaria dropping worldwide, sub-Saharan Africa is still home to the highest number of cases. According to the World Health Organization, in 2015, the region was home to 90% of malaria cases and 92% of malaria deaths. Prevention is key in the fight against malaria. Bed nets are the cornerstone for prevention of the disease and the scaling up of the coverage and usage of nets treated with long-lasting insecticide have contributed greatly to the global reduction of malaria. Unfortunately, resistance to insecticide is increasing and is seriously threatening malaria prevention.
More effective and sustainable solutions are still required to fight the disease. After decades of research, ‘RTS,S’ is the first malaria vaccine to have completed clinical development. However, its efficacy is limited, particularly against the severe forms of the disease, and it is complicated to use. It requires four doses, two of which have to be separated by 18 months. MSF continues to call for ongoing research to develop a safe, efficacious, inexpensive vaccine that is easy to use in developing countries.