By John Ikani
Commonwealth leaders led by African Heads of State have pledged to accelerate progress against malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
They have also reaffirmed their commitment to ending malaria by 2030.
The leaders who made the pledge yesterday at the historic Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs signed and adopted the Kigali Declaration on NTDs.
Hosted by His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, the Kigali Summit featured commitments totalling more than $US 4 billion including funding from governments, international organisations, philanthropists, and private sector support. In addition, 18 billion tablets have been donated by pharmaceutical companies for preventing and treating NTDs.
This was the first ever joint malaria and NTDs summit with Heads of State hosted on the African continent. It was attended by world leaders including His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, His Excellency Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honourable Dr Philip Isdor Mpango, Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, UAE and the Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Honourable Minister of Health, Federal Republic of Nigeria and took place alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Delivering his keynote address at the summit, Kagame said:
“Ensuring that all African countries mobilise the domestic financial resources required for quality healthcare, is a priority for the African Union, and our partners.
“If there is one thing the pandemic has taught us, it is that together, through coordinated and collaborative action, we can achieve much more.”
The Commonwealth also called on other global leaders to join them and demonstrate their support by endorsing and committing resources to the Kigali Declaration on NTDs and mobilising at least USD 18 billion for the malaria response at the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment Conference in September.
It is worthwhile to note that in recent years, Commonwealth countries have committed to reducing the burden of these largely preventable and treatable diseases.
In 2018, leaders pledged to halve malaria across the Commonwealth by 2023, to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2020, and to combat other mosquito-borne diseases.
