Washington D.C., February 12, 2019 - On February 8-9, global leaders convened for two critical health-related meetings – the preparatory meetings held in India in advance of The Sixth Replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and a new initiative launched at the African Union Summit in Ethiopia, ‘Africa Leadership Meeting: Investing in Health’. Also, the African Union Malaria Progress Report prepared by malaria experts from countries in Africa and in partnership with the African Union, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria was released highlighting progress and challenges in fighting malaria in Africa.
“The world has made remarkable progress in curbing the global burden of disease, but if we’re going to continue this progress and achieve our goals, we need to double down on efforts to eliminate the world’s biggest killers, malaria being one of them. Malaria-affected and donor countries need to step up to support and complement each other’s efforts to accelerate investments in health, improve economies and ultimately save millions more lives,” said Martin Edlund, CEO, Malaria No More.
These events come at a crucial time as countries work to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: “health and well-being for all,” which includes expanding access to essential medicines and providing health services for all. As a driver for healthier, better educated workforces and growing economies, ending malaria by 2030 is intrinsically linked to the SDGs and central to achieving SDG 3.
Highlights:
- At a Global Fund preparatory meeting in New Delhi, leaders, global health organizations, civil society groups and people affected by AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria vowed to take collective action for the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment for the 2020-2022 funding cycle. The organization is seeking $14 billion to help save 16 million lives, cut the mortality rate from HIV, TB and malaria in half, and prevent 234 million new infections from the three diseases. The Global Fund operates in more than 100 countries and is the leading source for malaria funding providing approximately 60% of total global funding for the disease. At the meeting, India committed to increase its overall health allocations to 2.5% GDP, while Luxembourg made the first pledge. Later, Ireland pledged that it will increase its contribution to the Global Fund by at least 50%.
- Africa accounts for 24% of the global disease burden but receives just 1% of global health spending, leaving more than half of its citizens without access to essential health services. At the 32nd African Union Summit, African Heads of State and Government, business leaders, and global health organizations, including Bill Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, launched a new initiative to deliver increased, sustained and more impactful financing for health across Africa. A first of its kind, this African-led approach to health financing brings together governments and private and development sectors to coordinate efforts and resources and provide a more efficient and accountable approach to health delivery. The meeting also included pledges of up to US$200 million from the public and private sectors, as well as from donor countries.
- With Africa accounting for 92% of the world’s malaria burden in 2017, the new African Union Malaria Progress Report launched at the AU Summit highlights major progress over the past decade in fighting malaria in Africa due to shared efforts and global solidarity. However, the report warns that recent data show investments and achievements against malaria are under threat unless accelerated actions, including increased health financing, are taken by all stakeholders.
Partner press materials:
Global Fund: Global Partners Commit to Step Up the Fight Against AIDS, TB and Malaria
African Union: Africa’s leaders gather to launch new health financing initiative aimed at closing funding gap and achieving universal health coverage
Joint statement by AU Commission, ALMA and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria: Africa’s leaders recommit to increase domestic resources to eliminate Malaria by 2030
