Geneva, Switzerland, 20 May 2025 —Health Ministers from Africa gathered at the World Health Assembly for a high-level ministerial briefing on malaria, issuing a unified call for a ‘Big Push’ to eliminate the disease.

Co-hosted by the African Union Commission, the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), leaders from Africa committed and urged global partners to increase support, warning that failure to act now could reverse hard-won gains. At the event, Honourable Ministers of Health from across Africa called for a fully funded Global Fund replenishment and announced the Ministerial Malaria Champions initiative alongside the launch of the next chapter of the Change the Story campaign.

A fully funded Global Fund will save lives, stop malaria, and make health systems stronger

Amid the calls for a big push, leaders reiterated the critical importance of a strong replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, warning that any rollback in investment could reverse decades of progress. The Global Fund remains a cornerstone of global health security, with its investments saving over 59 million lives and strengthening health systems across the world.

An investment in the Global Fund is not just about fighting diseases. It is about lifting millions from poverty, reinforcing national economies, and creating a safer, fairer, and more prosperous world.

Launch of the Ministerial Malaria Champions to accelerate action and impact

To drive a continental big push against Africa’s malaria problem, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria launched the Ministerial Malaria Champions initiative. The aim of the initiative is to leverage the strength of Ministers of Health as active advocates for malaria elimination.

We are encouraging these champions to come together in solidarity and help hold one another, and all ministers across the continent, accountable for delivering results; playing their part in changing the story and driving Africa toward zero malaria.

Joy Phumaphi, ALMA Executive Secretary

The first cohort of champions announced at the ministerial malaria briefing include the Ministers of Health from Botswana, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Key priorities will include securing essential resources, fostering cross-border collaboration, implementing strategic plans, and rapidly introducing and scaling up innovative tools.

Unveiling the next chapter of the Change the Story campaign

In collaboration with Malaria No More UK and Speak Up Africa, we launched the third chapter of the “Change the Story” campaign. This compelling short film amplifying the voices of girls in Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso as we urge all countries to contribute to fully funding the Global Fund replenishment this year. This next chapter was introduced by Dr Astrid Bonfield, CEO of Malaria No More UK, alongside Professor Mamadou Samba, Director General of Health and Public Hygiene at the Ministry of Health for the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

This campaign places children at the heart of the malaria response, giving them a platform to speak their truth and show us what is working, what is at risk, and why our action is urgently needed.

Dr Astrid Bonfield, CEO of Malaria No More UK

The film sheds light on the daily realities of malaria, particularly its impact on displaced children, how this perpetuates gender inequality and the urgent need for new tools and approaches to protect those most at risk.

Addressing the malaria funding gap

Emphasising the human and financial toll of malaria, ministers stressed the urgent need to close Africa’s $5.2 billion annual malaria funding gap, and to secure an additional $11 billion per year for climate-resilient health systems.

In this context, Prof. Julio Rakotonirina, Director for Health and Humanitarian Affairs at the African Union Commission, speaking on behalf of H.E. Amma Twum-Amoah, African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development, underscored the African Union’s roadmap as a strategic response to both the implementation and financing challenges countries face.

This roadmap gives priority to reducing the resource deficit by strengthening national funding, and mobilising resources from the private sector at the national level.

Prof. Julio Rakotonirina, Director for Health and Humanitarian Affairs at the African Union Commission, speaking on behalf of H.E. Amma Twum-Amoah, African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development

Driving bold leadership for elimination

Highlighting the growing urgency to eliminate malaria across the continent, Botswana’s Health Minister, Hon. Dr. Stephen Modise, called for intentional action, regional solidarity, and stronger public engagement.

We need to be intentional. We must work together, support one another, and act as a united front. Mosquitoes do not need visas or passports, and climate change affects us all. That is why we need a big push, and why we must support organisations like ALMA to help achieve malaria elimination on our continent.

Hon. Dr. Stephen Modise, Botswana’s Minister of Health

Responding to extreme weather events

Noting the impact of extreme weather events in fuelling malaria transmission especially to new geographic regions hence expanding risk of exposure, Malawi’s Health Minister, Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, emphasised the urgent need for coordinated action. In recent years, Malawi has experienced repeated cyclones and floods, which have disrupted health services, expanded mosquito breeding sites, and led to spikes in malaria cases.

We already know what works—other countries have eliminated malaria. So, the question is: why are we not doing it? Climate change is real. In Malawi, we’re being hit by cyclones year in, year out, and the mosquito pattern has changed. We need a multisectoral and regional approach. This is doable. It has been done elsewhere.

Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, Malawi’s Minister of Health

Defeating insecticide and drug resistance through innovation

Resistance to traditional tools and interventions remains one of the biggest challenges in the perfect storm that malaria faces. Addressing this, Hon. Dr. Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Health, highlighted the country’s advances in malaria innovation.

Burkina Faso was one of the first countries to integrate the distribution of new-generation mosquito nets with partner support. By 2025, we are preparing to distribute over 15 million of these nets to protect 30 million people. We have also introduced the malaria vaccine with national budget support, thanks to political will from our leadership. But innovation must go beyond tools, we are strengthening multisectoral coordination to truly defeat malaria.

Hon. Dr. Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Health, said, stressing the importance of resources to turn potential into real impact for those most in need

The Yaoundé Declaration sets the path for the Big Push

Launched in March 2024 by Health Ministers from the ten African countries most affected by malaria, the Yaoundé Declaration signalled a historic moment of strengthened continental leadership in the fight against the disease.

Dr. Daniel Ngamije Madandi, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, welcomed the continued momentum, emphasising the urgency of turning commitments into tangible action and that sustained political leadership remains central to accelerating progress and advancing a whole-of-society approach to malaria elimination

Countries must lead by strengthening health systems, increasing domestic investment, and ensuring accountability. Reducing malaria deaths is an opportunity to unlock progress, grow our economies, and build stronger, fairer societies. Let’s change the story of Africa’s children. Let’s end malaria and save lives.

Dr. Daniel Ngamije Madandi, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme

Existing frameworks – such as the Yaoundé Declaration, African Union Health Roadmap and the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030 – are paving the way for an accelerated Big Push as we work to achieving Zero Malaria in Africa.

Malaria is beatable. We have the tools. We know what works. What we need now is a big push to make definitive progress against this disease. Africa is ready to lead. The world must stand with us.

Joy Phumaphi, ALMA Executive Secretary urging countries and partners not to let momentum fade