African malaria coalition warns 30% funding cut could cause 146m additional cases by 2030

The African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) says a 30 per cent cut in malaria financing could lead to 146 million additional malaria cases in Africa by 2030.

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It could also cause nearly 400,000 deaths and $37 billion in lost Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

ALMA said this on Friday at a high-level side event on sustainable malaria financing, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) via webinar on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81).

NAN reports that the event was titled, “Africa’s Leadership for Sustainable Malaria Financing: A Multisectoral Path to Elimination”.

It was hosted by President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana, Chair of ALMA, in partnership with the African Union Commission and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria.

African leaders at the event called for stronger domestic financing, multisectoral action and deeper collaboration to protect gains made in the fight against malaria and accelerate progress towards elimination.

Africa currently accounts for 94 per cent of global malaria cases and 95 per cent of malaria deaths.

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The leaders said that progress had stalled, with the risk of a resurgence amid major financing shortfalls, extreme weather events, growing resistance to insecticides and medicines, and humanitarian crises.

They also said that recent Global Fund and Gavi replenishments had fallen short of their targets, while official development assistance for health in Africa continued to decline.

They urged African countries to institutionalise malaria financing within national budgets and development plans, while calling on development partners to provide predictable support during the transition.

They also called on African countries to include malaria control in their World Bank IDA21 health compacts.

The leaders further urged the World Bank to consider a dedicated Malaria Booster Programme under IDA22.

Mr Boko said Africa had the tools, experience, and leadership to change malaria’s trajectory but needed sustainable financing and collective action to match its ambition of a malaria-free future.

The Botswana president urged countries to pursue a managed transition towards sustainable domestic financing while strengthening political commitment to malaria elimination.

Sustained investment

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said sustained investment remained critical to preventing a reversal of progress against malaria.

“When investment is sustained, malaria retreats. When financing falls, it returns,” Mr Ghebreyesus said.

He said National End Malaria Councils and Funds could provide a practical mechanism for bringing different sectors together to support malaria control and elimination.

“End Malaria Councils bring government, businesses, civil society, and communities around one plan and one financing platform.

“Every malaria-endemic country should establish and use such a mechanism adapted to its national context,” he said.

Mr Boko said Africa was ready to lead the fight but that malaria elimination remained a shared responsibility requiring sustained global partnership.

He urged member states, development partners and other sectors to translate the commitments into action.

“Let us finance the fight, bring every sector to the table, and deliver the big push to zero malaria,” he said.

Muhammad Jallow, Vice President of The Gambia, cautioned that domestic financing alone would not be enough to sustain the level of investment required to achieve malaria elimination.

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“We must be mindful of the fiscal constraints facing many of our countries. Domestic financing alone can not sustain the level of investment required to reach elimination,” Mr Jallow said.

He called for stronger international partnerships and predictable financing to support countries through the final stages of malaria elimination.

He said African countries needed to increase domestic investment while ensuring that international partners continued to provide the resources required to close existing financing gaps.

Zarau Wendeline Kibwe, Executive Director for the Africa Group 1 Constituency at the World Bank Group, said malaria should remain a priority as countries moved towards negotiations on IDA22.

NAN reports that the event also highlighted cross-border collaboration, local manufacturing and innovation as important components of malaria elimination.

(NAN)