The African Union Commission commemorates World Malaria Day 2022 with the mandate to meet the global goal to eradicate malaria by 2030.
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The good news associated with this commemoration is the rollout of the long-awaited malaria vaccine for children pilot programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.
Malaria remains a primary cause of childhood illness and mortality in Africa.
The Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission, H.E. Minata Samate Cessouma says ” this innovation is a breakthrough for child health improvement and malaria control. I encourage further innovative establishments in African Union (AU) Member States to fulfil the AU Agenda 2063 and the AU Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA-2024) anchored on building the Africa we want by harnessing the power of science and technology.”
The 2021 Africa Malaria Progress Report outlines an urgent need to accelerate action across all malaria response areas: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, elimination and surveillance to end malaria by 2030.
The AU shared imperative is to save the lives of African citizens by rising to the challenges and closing the service delivery gaps.
In ending malaria, the cross-border movement of mosquitoes and people presents a constant challenge, this must be addressed by member states in the conduct of equity analysis to assess and ensure that malaria prevention and treatment funding is distributed proportionately to the demand.
A vision of a malaria-free Africa can be realised by achieving and sustaining universal access to preventive measures and case management while accelerating the development of surveillance systems.
The AU Commissioner for Health, however encouraged the AU Member States to integrate Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), HIV/AIDS/STI and malaria services as premised on the African Union Maputo Plan of Action.
The theme of this year’s World Malaria Day is Equity, Build Resilience, End Malaria.
