African leaders have emphasized the need to strengthen domestic funding to combat malaria, as external aid dedicated to health has declined. The issue was discussed at a high-level meeting on sustainable financing for malaria control, organized by Botswana President and Chair of the African Leaders Against Malaria Alliance (ALMA), Duma Gideon Boko. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The urgency of the financial situation is underscored by the fact that Africa accounts for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of malaria-related deaths. Progress in controlling the disease is hindered by several factors, including extreme weather events, insecticide and drug resistance, and humanitarian crises. A study by ALMA and Malaria No More UK found that a 30% reduction in malaria funding could lead to 146 million additional cases, nearly 400,000 more deaths, and a loss of $37 billion in GDP by 2030.
To address this challenge, African leaders are advocating for a transition to more sustainable domestic financing. This involves integrating malaria control into national budgets and development plans, reducing the vulnerability of national programs to fluctuations in external funding. The approach also involves establishing national malaria elimination councils and funds to mobilize a common strategy among governments, the private sector, civil society, and communities.
According to the source, 14 operational councils have been established, mobilizing over $245 million to help bridge funding gaps in national programs. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, noted that these mechanisms enable different actors to come together around a common plan of action and financing platform.
However, the mobilization of domestic resources does not imply a disengagement of international partners. African leaders have called for more predictable external funding to support countries in their transition and to sustain necessary investments until malaria elimination. Gambia Vice-President, Muhammad B. S. Jallow, highlighted that several African countries face budget constraints that prevent them from shouldering the required investment alone.
In this context, leaders have urged the integration of malaria control into health pacts related to the World Bank's IDA21 and making the disease a priority in the IDA22 framework. The diversification of funding should also be accompanied by multisectoral mobilization, involving the health, finance, agriculture, and environment sectors, as well as the private sector and communities.
This strategy is part of the "Big Push" initiative against malaria, aligned with the African Union's roadmap to 2030 and beyond, which identifies sustainable domestic financing, diversification of resources, and shared responsibility as key levers for eliminating the disease. The African leaders' push for increased domestic funding aims to preserve the gains made against malaria and ensure a more sustainable approach to controlling the disease.
Key points
- African leaders are seeking to increase domestic funding to combat malaria due to declining external aid.
- A 30% reduction in malaria funding could lead to 146 million additional cases and 400,000 more deaths by 2030.
- The strategy involves integrating malaria control into national budgets and development plans, and establishing national malaria elimination councils and funds.
