June 24, 2022

The Conquest to End Malaria: Reducing the Burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases

June 24, 2022

The Conquest to End Malaria: Reducing the Burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases

As the Kigali Summit took place yesterday to urgently increase investments and commitments critical to ending malaria and neglected tropical diseases, I am calling on all world leaders to unlock the potential of smart partnerships to conquer malaria, reduce the burden of NTD’s and build a healthier better world for us all. 

Incredible progress over the last two decades proves that ending malaria and NTDs is an achievable goal. Investment in the fight through the Global Fund has led to 10.6 million lives saved and prevented 1.7 billion malaria cases. To date, 46 countries have eliminated at least one NTD and 600 million people no longer require treatment for NTDs. 

Yet, we still need renewed investments made by Presidents, Prime Ministers, CEOs, philanthropists, scientific experts, global influencers and community champions to save more lives, drive economic growth and support health systems to detect and respond to emerging diseases in a timely manner. We are currently at a crucial time in the fight against malaria. 

I acknowledge the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), a groundbreaking coalition of African Union Heads of State and Government, working towards eliminating malaria by 2030 with various partners in their advocacy for data-driven decision-making, transparency, accountability and action on malaria, child and maternal health, NTDs and nutrition.  

Countries around the world must pledge financial support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to help ensure that the world stays on track to end all three epidemics within a generation, to build strong national health systems to better respond to emerging pandemics. 

My Wellbeing Foundation Africa has witnessed time and time again, how malaria and NTDs continue to multiply in areas of poverty, afflicting the lives and livelihoods of billions of people. We cannot allow half the world to continue to suffer from preventable and treatable diseases. 

I am thrilled to echo Dr Tedros’ announcement regarding the launch of my dear sister and former mentors namesake Dr Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme to develop women leaders to beat NTDs. Dr Malecela was the Director of the WHO Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, and an inspirational figure to all in global health. I recall her mentorship alongside Global Water in 2020, which aided WBFA in our uptake of WASH. I continue on in her memory, through my advocacy with the The End Fund, while re-affirming my commitment to sustainable, inclusive and collaborative action.

The Kigali Summit is a historic opportunity to End Malaria and Beat NTDs. Let us make history and be a part of the generation that ends malaria for good. My Wellbeing Foundation Africa and I endorse the Kigali Declaration and will continue to advocate for mobilising a fully resourced Global Fund Replenishment to End Malaria.

We must take action now – zero malaria starts with us all!

 

 

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