International Day of the Girl Child 2023

Initiated by the United Nations on 11 October 2012, the International Day of the Girl Child serves to celebrate girls around the world and inspire action against the inequality they face in all areas of life, including education and health. 

Globally, malaria is one of the leading causes of death among adolescent girls (aged 10-19); however, data examining the burden of the disease among this population is limited. Moreover, adolescent girls present with clinical malaria during pregnancy 1.7 times more frequently than adult women, and are more likely to experience peripheral and placental malaria infection at delivery compared to adults. Adolescent girls face numerous socio-cultural and policy barriers limiting their access to malaria prevention and treatment services. Extensive data on malaria and adolescent girls is needed to create effective policies and programmes and reduce the burden of malaria in this population.

Medicines for Malaria Venture advocates for improving access to malaria and reproductive health interventions for adolescent girls.