Table 3 Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the malaria situation

Malaria preventive measures

Inconsistent chemoprophylaxis intervals

Reduced access to chemoprophylaxis and ITNs

Low malaria funding

Lack of chemoprophylaxis and ITNs

Non-willingness to take chemoprophylaxis

Differential diagnosis of malaria and COVID-19

Inadequate education on symptomatic similarities

Increased malaria testing leading to shortages of malaria test kits

Increase in severe and complicated malaria in health facilities

Checklist-based COVID-19 diagnosis; COVID-19 test lacking

Respiratory symptoms: children treated as malaria, COVID-19 only considered in adults

Presumptive symptomatic treatment

Hospital only when self-medication failed

High malaria morbidity and complications

Malaria treatment

Focus on COVID-19, neglect of other diseases

Shortage of antimalarials in rural areas

Patients handled as COVID-19 without confirmation

Lack of antimalarials and limited opening of clinics leading to alternative medicine use