Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn calls for the development of African Roadmap for malaria elimination
Nine African countries on target to achieve Millennium Development Goals targets on Malaria
Addis Ababa – 25th April 2015: The Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance and Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn made a call for the continental body to develop an African Roadmap to eliminate malaria by 2030.
“The transition from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals should also sustain the gains we have made and move towards malaria elimination as advocated in our Africa 2030 agenda to eliminate malaria” said Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in a statement delivered on his behalf by Ethiopian Health Minister Dr. Kesetebirhan Admassu during the Big Push to Defeat Malaria by 2030 high level dialogue hosted at the African Union Commission headquarters to commemorate World Malaria Day.
This year’s commemorations come at a pivotal moment when the progress in responding to malaria in Africa includes a 54% decline in malaria mortality rates and a reduction of malaria mortality rates among children by 58% since 2000. Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Eritrea, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa and Swaziland are on track to MDG 6. Increased political commitment and increased funding have helped to reduce malaria incidence by 34% in Africa. In spite of these tremendous results however Africa continues to account for 82% of malaria cases and 90% of malaria deaths worldwide.
“We should work in unison to ensure that the US$1 billion of the estimated annual continental resource requirement is fully funded to ensure that the high-burden African countries are able to replace expiring long-lasting insecticide treated nets” said Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, the Commissioner for Social Affairs.
There were exponential increases in funding and implementation for malaria control programmes over the past decade. International disbursements for malaria control significantly increased, rising from less than US$ 0.5 per case (US$ 100 million total spend) in 2000 to more than US$ 8 per case in 2012 (US$ 1.84 billion total spend). These increased funds were focused on Africa. During the meeting various ambassadors underscored the need for more education and research on more tools to address malaria control beyond the use of nets.
The review of the Abuja Call this year recommended its extension to 2030 in line with the 2013 Abuja Declaration which outlines key actions to defeat malaria. Africa has already demonstrated this deep reflection and pace setting through the African Common Position on the Post 2015 Development Agenda and the reengineering of Africa’s health priorities in the context of a new health architecture better prepared for disease surveillance and response. Plans to establish the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention are already at an advanced stage.
This year the commemorations are being celebrated under the theme “Invest in future, defeat malaria”. The meeting was attended by Ambassadors accredited to the African Union, Universities and various development partners.
AMT/
For further information contact
Ms. Afrah Thabit| | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | | E-mail: thabitma@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
Mr. Tawanda Chisango I AIDS WATCH AFRICA (AWA) Program Advocacy & Partnership Expert | Social Affairs | African Union Commission I Mobile +251934167052 | E-mail: chisangot@africa-union.org | Web www.au.int I
Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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About the African Leaders Malaria Alliance-The African Leaders Malaria Alliance is a ground breaking coalition of 49 African Heads of State and Government working across country and regional borders to achieve near-zero malaria deaths in Africa by 2015. Learn more at http://www.alma2015.org
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