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Published: 10 February 2020

His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, has assumed the Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), a coalition of African Heads of State and Government advancing advocacy efforts, resource mobilization and accountability in the fight against malaria across Africa. President Kenyatta is ALMA’s seventh chair and will serve for a two-year term, from February 2020 to February 2022. He takes over from His Majesty King Mswati III, of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of the Republic of Kenya, said: « I am honored to take over this role as ALMA Chair.  Significant gains have been made in the battle against malaria and progress needs to be accelerated. As we enter the decade to end malaria, I am committed to ensuring that we accelerate progress and end this ancient scourge! At the heart of Africa’s Agenda 2063: the Africa We Want, is improved health outcomes so that our people and economies continue to grow.”

During his term, His Majesty King Mswati III played a key role in the launch of the Zero Malaria Starts with Me Campaign which, to date, has launched in 13 countries across the continent. His Majesty King Mswati III and the African Union Commission initiated the annual Africa Malaria Progress Report and launched the first End Malaria Fund in May 2019 to mobilize domestic resources for Eswatini’s malaria control and elimination program.

His Majesty King Mswati III said: “We have enjoyed our role as Chair of ALMA and will continue the work to end malaria for all Africans. We see other countries establishing their own End Malaria Funds and look forward to seeing them scaled up across the African continent.”

Malaria remains a significant challenge in Africa: the continent accounts for 93% of global malaria cases as well as 94% of global malaria deaths. There is an urgent need to act in 10 high-burden African Union Member States, who account for 67% of global malaria cases and 62% of deaths.

Her Excellency Mrs. Amira El-Fadil, Commissioner for Social Affairs for the African Union Commission said: “Ending malaria on the African continent is a key priority outlined in the Catalytic Framework to End HIV, TB and Eliminate Malaria and we are committed to achieving this goal. I welcome His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta as the new Chair of ALMA and look forward to working with him to end this terrible disease.”

Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, welcomed the new ALMA Chair saying: “Leadership by African Heads of State is paramount if we are to reach the ambitious goal of a malaria-free Africa within a generation, and ALMA continues to be a key strategic partner of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria.  We look forward to continuing this collaboration and supporting His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta’s work to end malaria in Kenya and across the continent.”

Since 2009, ALMA has worked to enhance accountability in the fight against malaria on the continent. Through the ALMA Scorecard for Accountability and Action, African Heads of State and Government are tracking progress and enhancing accountability for malaria control and elimination on the continent. ALMA also supports African countries in the establishment of End Malaria Councils and Funds and works to sustain political and leadership commitments towards the fight to eliminate malaria.