Report Type: Issue/Program Brief

Malaria associated illness greatly affects worker absenteeism and productivity. Worker absenteeism, increases when employees sick with malaria miss between one and five days of work. Employees are likely to miss a similar period of work when caring for children and family members with malaria infection. In addition, healthcare costs cause severe losses in household income and increased mental distress for employees who are breadwinners in their households. Engaging in malaria control interventions far outweigh lost productivity, employee replacement and healthcare costs associated with illness and death for both employers and employees.