Malaria Is Just a Medical Problem, Right? EBC and United to Beat Malaria Disagree

Malaria is often thought of purely as a health issue, something that doctors and hospitals alone can fix. But at EBC Financial Group, we recognise the problem runs much deeper. Our work alongside the United Nations Foundation’s United to Beat Malaria campaign reveals that malaria is intertwined with environmental damage, economic inequality, and climate change. Tackling malaria requires more than medicine; it demands a collective effort that spans finance, policy, and communities. 

Beyond Medicine: How Environment Feeds Malaria 

Plastic pollution is more than an eyesore or threat to marine life. On World Environment Day 2025, as global attention focused on ending plastic pollution, we highlighted a crucial yet overlooked fact: plastic waste creates stagnant water pools that are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Combined with deforestation and rising global temperatures, these conditions allow mosquitoes to spread malaria to new areas. 

For instance, deforestation in Colombia and the Amazon basin exposes rural and Indigenous populations to higher malaria risk. In Bangladesh, floods worsened by plastic debris have made mosquito outbreaks worse. Even parts of southern Europe report isolated malaria cases as warmer climates allow mosquitoes to survive where they once could not. 

The Economic Toll of Malaria 

Malaria is a drag on economies as well as health systems. In sub-Saharan Africa, the disease reduces GDP by approximately 1.3% every year. It accounts for up to half a billion lost workdays and costs around $12 billion in lost productivity annually. This burden disproportionately affects children, working adults, and communities with fewer resources. 

At EBC, we believe the financial sector has a role to play in reversing this trend. 

Putting Finance in the Fight Against Malaria 

In 2025, we renewed our commitment to United to Beat Malaria by becoming an official corporate sponsor of the Move Against Malaria 5K. From 25 April to 10 May, over 200 of our employees across the UK, Africa, Asia, and Latin America took part in this global initiative. Our goal was not just to raise awareness but to embed the importance of advocacy within our corporate culture. 

David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd, summed up our approach: 

"We often view malaria as a medical issue — but it's also an ecological one. Plastic waste, deforestation, and warming temperatures all create the perfect storm for mosquitoes to thrive. Through our partnership with United to Beat Malaria, we're investing in scalable, frontline interventions that protect both people and ecosystems." 

Influencing Policy, Driving Change 

In March, Barrett and Samuel Hertz, our Director of Operations, attended the 2025 United to Beat Malaria Annual Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. There, they joined over 120 advocates and policymakers calling for sustained global investment in programmes such as the President’s Malaria Initiative, The Global Fund, and other UN-led interventions. 

"Finance can be a force for regeneration," Barrett added. "That's why we're supporting community-led health interventions, amplifying awareness, and backing solutions that address the root causes — not just the symptoms — of inequality." 

Delivering Tangible Impact 

Our partnership funds vital resources like insecticide-treated bed nets, rapid diagnostic kits, and antimalarial treatments where they are most needed. In 2024 alone, United to Beat Malaria helped protect 1.67 million people in sub-Saharan Africa and 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, areas where climate vulnerability and healthcare challenges are significant. 

At EBC, we are committed to leveraging financial tools to make a difference. Stopping malaria means tackling its root causes, environmental degradation, climate instability, and economic fragility, as much as the disease itself. 

Our efforts show that finance can be part of the solution for a healthier, more equitable world.