Published: 21 October 2024

The African Leaders Malaria Alliance congratulates the Arab Republic of Egypt on being declared malaria-free by the WHO. This is a significant public health milestone for a country with more than 100 million inhabitants. The achievement follows a nearly 100-years effort by the Egyptian government and people to end this epidemic that we can end with the science and tools at our disposal.

We congratulate the Arab Republic of Egypt for this key milestone on the occasion of its WHO malaria-free certification. Like Egypt, we must all prioritise malaria financing while building strengthened and resilient health systems in order to achieve the malaria-related targets of the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030.

Joy Phumaphi, ALMA Executive Secretary

Globally, a total of 45 countries have reached this milestone. Malaria remains a major challenge across Africa, responsible for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of deaths, with children under five being especially vulnerable. The continent is also at the centre of a perfect storm that threatens to disrupt essential life-saving malaria services and undo decades of progress. These include financial constraints, biological threats such as drug and insecticide resistance, and the intensifying impacts of climate change. Accelerated action, increased domestic investments, global solidarity and promotion of transparency and accountability are key to end this old age disease.