But, thanks in part to a huge increase in the number of people using bednets, that's just half as many people as malaria killed in Africa 15 years ago.
As part of the South Sudan malaria control group, MEDAIR provides medicine, treatment and mosquito nets to many rural parts of the country where malaria is on the rise.
Now that I know of it, I see the importance of using the net so as to save on costs of going for treatment and use the little money I have to sustain my family.
But the best reason for optimism comes from the results we are seeing in some African countries, particularly following better coverage with bednets and use of the newer strategy for home-based management.