Addis Ababa, 10 February 2019 – African Heads of State and Government adopted the 2018 African Union Malaria Progress Report which was prepared by malaria experts from countries in Africa and in partnership with the African Union, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria.  The report presented on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini by Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini of the Kingdom of Eswatini highlights significant progress toward defeating malaria over the past decade as a result of shared efforts and global solidarity to rid the continent of this preventable and treatable disease once and for all. However, the report warns that recent data show that the investments and significant achievements made are under threat and accelerated action is needed now to get countries back on track. This will be essential to meet the ambitious targets outlined in the Catalytic Framework to End HIV/AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030 and in the Sustainable Development Goals. 

“It will take significant resources to achieve malaria elimination.  Now, more than ever, we must boost our domestic resources from both the public and private sectors.” said His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini and Chair of ALMA. 

In 2017, out of the estimated 219 million global malaria cases, 200 million (92% of global cases) were in Africa resulting with 403,000 deaths. The 10 highest burden African countries reported 3.5 million more cases in 2017 than in 2016.

At the July 2018 African Union Summit in Mauritania, President Macky Sall of Senegal and His Majesty King Mswati III of Eswatini jointly launched the “Zero Malaria Starts with Me (ZMSWM)” campaign which was endorsed by the Assembly of African Heads of State and Government. This continent-wide campaign seeks to reinvigorate national and regional progress against malaria. The 2018 Malaria Progress Report provides an update on ZMSWM. The African Union Commission, ALMA and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria developed a campaign toolkit to assist countries with the roll out. To date, more than 30 countries have expressed interest in launching their own campaigns.   As ZMSWM is implemented across Africa, the ALMA Scorecard for Accountability & Action, which is produced quarterly, will remain an important tool that countries use to track performance against key indicators in malaria endemic countries. 40 countries have rolled out national and subnational malaria control and elimination scorecards and action trackers to further enhance accountability and action.

The 2018 African Union Malaria Progress Report provides several examples of best practices and innovations around ending malaria.  This year, several countries will establish national End Malaria Councils which are high level, multi sectoral, political bodies that drive malaria elimination at country level.  Countries are also establishing national malaria funds to enhance domestic public and private resources for malaria elimination.  Countries are working to address the threat of insecticide resistance by introducing new mosquito nets and insecticides and locally manufacturing essential commodities to combat malaria.  The report shows that there is increased cross-border coordination against malaria in the Sahel Region and in Southern Africa. 

According to the report, key priorities for 2019 to achieve the targets set out in the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030 include enhancing sub regional collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities of Africa.  Countries will roll out regional scorecards and action trackers and improve the local regulatory frameworks to fast track the innovation of new commodities, in particular, to address insecticide resistance.  Further, mobilisation of additional domestic resources in both the public and private sectors and full replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria of at least $14 billion will accelerate success in the fight against malaria. 

MEDIA CONTACTS

For media enquiries and interview requests please find contact information below.

African media inquiries and requests should be directed to:
 

Wynne Musabayana I Head of Communication Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org
 

Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communications Directorate | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org
 

Tawanda Chisango | Communication Manager | African Leaders Malaria Alliance | Email: tchisango@alma2030.org  | Mobile +251 934167052.
 

For further information:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Photo credits: Abate Damte