By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
H.E. Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana has been appointed as the new Chair President Advocate of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). He succeeds H.E. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, who led the organization for over two years, advocating for malaria initiatives across the continent.
As Boko assumes leadership, African leaders emphasized the urgent need for a unified and decisive response to malaria. This call to action coincided with the launch of a new phase of the “Change the Story” campaign, which highlights the experiences of children affected by malaria.
Boko pledged to advance the malaria elimination agenda and stressed the importance of increasing resources to prevent a resurgence of the disease and to ensure progress toward its elimination.
“Africa must urgently rise to the challenge by mobilizing domestic resources, including drawing on emergency funds and increasing health budget allocations,” Boko said. He further advocated for scaling up innovative financing through End Malaria Councils and leveraging platforms such as the World Bank IDA and the Green Climate Fund.
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who previously chaired ALMA, noted that End Malaria Councils have collectively raised over $125 million in the fight against malaria. “These multisectoral councils promote primary health care, including the engagement of community health workers, who are crucial in combating diseases like malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia,” she said.
Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development at the African Union Commission, emphasized that malaria is a key indicator for strengthening health systems and preparedness for pandemics.
“We must ensure sufficient resources to combat malaria, HIV, and TB, especially in light of the upcoming Global Fund replenishment,” she stated.
The 2024 “Africa Malaria Progress Report,” released at the summit, highlights a critical moment in the continent’s fight against malaria. It reveals that progress is stagnating, jeopardizing Africa’s ambitious goal to eliminate malaria by 2030.
The report warns that malaria elimination is threatened by insufficient resources, rapid population growth, climate change, biological resistance, and the impacts of humanitarian crises.
According to the report, there has been a 38 percent reduction in malaria incidence and a 60 percent reduction in mortality since 2000, preventing 1.8 billion cases and saving 11.9 million lives in Africa over the past two decades.
This progress demonstrates that, despite ongoing challenges, lasting advancements in malaria control are possible with full commitment. Notably, Egypt’s certification as malaria-free in 2024 marks a significant milestone in the fight against the disease.
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