Budget cuts for mosquito nets and testing kits stymie Nepal’s fight against malaria

Plasmodium falciparum, a protozoan parasite that most often causes severe and life-threatening malaria, is being found more commonly, officials say. Twenty-three cases of malaria have been reported in various districts since the start of 2023.

The plan was to procure 180,000 lasting insecticide-treated bed nets for the ongoing fiscal year but only 120,000 nets were purchased. The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division had planned to buy 500,000 malaria testing rapid diagnostic kits for the ongoing fiscal year but it purchased only 315,000 pieces.