Ministers of Health from African countries with the highest burden of malaria have committed to accelerated action to end deaths from the disease, as announced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday. Gathering in Yaoundé, Cameroon, they signed a declaration pledging stronger leadership, increased domestic funding, and enhanced malaria control efforts at national and sub-national levels.
The ministers also vowed to invest in data technology, apply the latest technical guidance, and sustainably address the threat of malaria in Africa, which accounts for 95% of malaria deaths globally. Additionally, they pledged to increase health sector investments for infrastructure and personnel, enhance collaboration across sectors, and build partnerships for funding, research, and innovation.
The Yaoundé conference, co-hosted by WHO and the Government of Cameroon, aimed to review progress and challenges in achieving global malaria strategy targets, discuss mitigation strategies and funding, agree on effective strategies for malaria mortality reduction, and establish a roadmap for increased political commitment and societal engagement in malaria control.
The declaration reflects a shared commitment to protect people from malaria's devastating consequences. However, progress against malaria has stalled since 2017 in high-burden African countries, due to factors such as humanitarian crises, low access to health services, climate change, gender-related barriers, and insufficient funding globally.
