Marching Foward: African Ministers vow to end Malaria deaths in the region

7 March 2024, 07:45
Contributor: Linda Ravenhill

Yaounde, Cameroon 6 March 2024

Ministers from 11 African countries have signed a declaration to implement the 'High Burden, High Impact Approach' to end malaria in the region. The landmark declaration was signed in Yaoundé, Cameroon, with Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania among the signatory nations.

Africa carries roughly 70% of the world's malaria burden. Despite notable progress in combating the disease, the region still bears the brunt, accounting for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of global deaths, with an estimated 580,000 fatalities in 2022 alone. 

On a global scale, funding for malaria initiatives has significantly declined. In 2022, just over half of the required budget was allocated for malaria response efforts. In the high-burden African countries, this situation is exacerbated by humanitarian crises, limited access to and inadequate quality of health services, the impacts of climate change, gender-related barriers, threats such as insecticide and drug resistance, as well as global economic crises. 

The Yaoundé conference, jointly hosted by the WHO and the Government of Cameroon, convened Health Ministers, global malaria partners, scientists, funding agencies, civil society organizations, and key stakeholders from across the region. The declaration, in line with the "High burden to high impact" approach, emphasizes political will, strategic information, improved guidance, and coordinated national responses. 

The Ministers pledged to bolster health sector investments, promote multi-sectoral collaboration, and forge partnerships for funding and innovation. Their signing symbolized an unwavering dedication to accelerate malaria mortality reduction and mutual accountability for outlined commitments.


Read the Declaration here
Declaration for Accelerated Malaria Mortality Reduction in Africa
 

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