While taking measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 worldwide, it is essential that other killer diseases, such as malaria, are not ignored. It is known, from the recent Ebola outbreak in west Africa, that a sudden increased demand on fragile health services can lead to substantial increases in morbidity and mortality from other diseases, including malaria.

The COVID-19 pandemic could be devastating on its own – but this devastation will be substantially amplified if the response undermines the provision of life-saving services for other diseases. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic must utilize and strengthen the infrastructure that has helped health programmes to address malaria and other infectious diseases around the world. If supported, these health systems will help to curb the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and maintain essential health services. If the systems and staff are not well engaged, however, the gains made in saving lives from malaria and other diseases over the past 20 years may be lost.