The ministerial conference on malaria, bringing together 11 of the 12 countries hardest hit by the disease, has resulted in the Yaoundé Declaration. Ministers from Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among others, commit to reducing malaria mortality rates by at least 90% compared to the 2015 baseline.
The assessment is clear. Since 2015, there has been a slowdown in progress in the fight against malaria in the eleven African countries. Along with India, these countries collectively account for 73% of global malaria mortality. The number of cases in the African region has increased from 218 million to 233 million between 2019 and 2022.
“Between 2000 and 2015, there was a 50% reduction in mortality. But unfortunately, since 2015, we have seen a resurgence of cases. This is due to several factors including Covid-19 and climate change. There is also the fact that funding levels have stagnated,” says Olivia Ngou, executive director of the NGO Impact Africa.
The level of funding makes it impossible to achieve objectives such as reducing malaria mortality rates by 75% in Africa by 2025. In 2022, the WHO and its partners only mobilized $4.1 billion out of the $7.8 billion needed for malaria control.
Seeking Private Investors
It may be time to mobilize private investments, according to Malachie Manaouda, Cameroon’s Minister of Health. “The private sector is a sector that should ideally be concerned about this situation. Therefore, we need to present the benefits of the impact of malaria control. The impact on their economy and business should matter in their vision to invest more in the sector.”
The issue of malaria vaccines also emerged in discussions. After Cameroon, Burkina Faso is preparing to administer its first doses of vaccines, and other countries are expected to follow suit, according to the WHO.
In 2022, approximately 166 million cases of malaria and 423,000 deaths attributable to the disease occurred in the 12 most affected countries.
This collective effort underscores the urgency and commitment of these nations to combat malaria effectively, aiming to significantly reduce its impact on public health and socio-economic development in the region.