Health Ministers from African countries with the highest malaria burden today pledged to accelerate action to end deaths from the disease. They committed to sustainably and equitably address the threat of malaria in the African region, which accounts for 95% of malaria deaths worldwide.
Ministers, meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon, signed a declaration pledging to provide stronger leadership and increased domestic funding for malaria control programmes. secure further investment in data technology; implement the latest technical guidelines for malaria control and elimination; and strengthen malaria control efforts at national and subnational levels.
Ministers further pledged to increase investment in the health sector to strengthen infrastructure, staff and program delivery. to strengthen multi-sectoral cooperation; and to create partnerships for funding, research and innovation. In signing the declaration, they expressed their “unwavering commitment to rapidly reducing malaria mortality” and “holding each other and our countries accountable for the commitments outlined in this declaration.”
The Yaoundé conference, co-organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Cameroon, brought together Ministers of Health, global malaria partners, funding agencies, scientists, civil society organizations and other key malaria stakeholders.
The ministerial conference has four main objectives: review progress and challenges in achieving the goals of the WHO global malaria strategy; Discuss mitigation and financing strategies for malaria; agree on effective strategies and responses to accelerate malaria mortality reduction in Africa; and create a road map for increased political and social commitment to malaria control, with a clear accountability mechanism.
“This declaration reflects our shared commitment as nations and partners to protect our people from the devastating effects of malaria. We will work together to ensure that this commitment is translated into action and impact,” said Hon Manaouda Malachie, Minister Cameroon Health.
The African region is home to 11 countries that carry about 70% of the global burden of malaria: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania. Progress against malaria has stalled in these high-burden African countries since 2017 due to factors such as humanitarian crises, low access and poor quality of health services, climate change, gender-related barriers, biological threats such as resistance to insecticides and drugs and global economic crises. Fragile health systems and critical gaps in data and surveillance have compounded the challenge.
Funding for malaria control worldwide is also inadequate. In 2022, US$4.1 billion – just over half of the required budget – was available to address malaria.
Globally, the number of cases in 2022 was significantly higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching 249 million from 233 million in 2019. During the same period, the African region saw an increase in cases from 218 million to 233 million. The region continues to bear the greatest burden of malaria, accounting for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of global deaths, an estimated 580,000 deaths in 2022.
Globally, the world has made significant progress against malaria in recent decades and yet, as of 2017, this progress has stalled. The COVID-19 pandemic and long-term threats such as drug and insecticide resistance have pushed us further off track, with significant gaps in funding and access to tools to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria. With political leadership, country ownership and the commitment of a broad coalition of partners, we can change this story for families and communities across Africa.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
To help accelerate efforts to reduce the burden of malaria, WHO and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria launched the High Burden High Impact approach in 2018, a targeted effort to accelerate progress in countries that have been most affected by malaria.
The declaration signed at today’s conference aligns with the ‘High Burden for High Impact’ approach, which is based on four pillars: political will to reduce malaria deaths; strategic information to increase impact; better guidance, policies and strategies; and a coordinated national response to malaria.
“Malaria continues to cause preventable deaths of children and great devastation to families across our region. We welcome today’s ministerial statement, which demonstrates strong political will to reduce the burden of this deadly disease,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. . “With renewed urgency and commitment, we can accelerate progress toward a malaria-free future.”
To get malaria progress back on track, WHO recommends a strong commitment to tackling malaria at all levels, particularly in high-burden countries. greater domestic and international funding; science and evidence-based malaria responses; urgent action on the health impacts of climate change; leveraging research and innovation; and strong partnerships for coordinated responses. WHO also draws attention to the need to address delays in the implementation of the malaria programme.
