Malaria is a dangerous disease. One that, according to the World Health Organization, resulted in 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths in 2022 worldwide. For pregnant women, particularly those in their first trimester, it can cause serious complications, a concern for over 120 million women of childbearing age living in malaria-endemic areas. Malaria in pregnancy can result in maternal and neonatal mortality, miscarriage, low birth weight, and stillbirth.
United Nations member states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, which include Goal 3 of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, and Goal 5 of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls by 2030. The SDGs include specific targets for ending malaria, ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls, and achieving universal health coverage. However, medicines can take 20 years to be approved for use in pregnant women; time that the global health community does not have if it is to meet the 2030 deadline to achieve these goals.
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