Published: 8 July 2023 (Dakar, Senegal)

At the 5th Anniversary of the Zero Malaria Starts With Me movement, young leaders and representatives from across Africa issued a ground-breaking declaration towards ending malaria in the continent by 2030. The gathering, convened on 7th and 8th July 2023, recognized the significant strides and challenges faced in achieving a malaria-free Africa.

Drawing from the Pan-African initiative “Zero Malaria Starts With Me”, these youth leaders are championing a three-pillar approach, focusing on sustained political commitment, mobilizing private sector engagement and financing, and increasing community engagement, coordination and ownership.

Despite the concerns raised over the failure to meet the African Union’s 2020 target of reducing malaria incidence and mortality by 40%, the declaration acknowledged the progress over the last two decades, proving that ending malaria is possible. It also highlighted the untold suffering caused by malaria and other pressing health challenges in Africa and the importance of combating these diseases to unlock the continent’s potential.

“We are more than ready to join forces with all stakeholders, both local and international. Together, we will tackle not just malaria, but other pressing health issues in Africa. Our vision is of resilient health systems and a safer world, especially for those most at risk,” affirmed Aminetou Bilal, North Africa Lead for the ALMA Youth Advisory Council (AYAC).

Recognizing that the fight against malaria is not just a health issue, but also a human rights matter, the young leaders acknowledged the importance of equitable access to affordable and quality assured malaria prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, and support services. They also affirmed the role of youth as a central and catalytic force in this battle.

During the event, the attendees recalled their commitment to building a robust network of youth advocating for malaria elimination, established during the Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. The emphasis was on the power of young people in creating transformative individual and social change.

The declaration included several key commitments, such as pledging to promote the use of the ALMA Scorecard, an accountability tool that helps identify gaps in their respective communities, advocating for multi-sectoral collaboration in the fight against malaria, stressing the need for equity in malaria care, and urging for increased research and development.

The declaration also appealed to governments, private sector, and multi-sectoral leaders to increase investment in malaria programmes. They also urged governments to incorporate the malaria youth corps into national healthcare delivery systems.

In a call to action, the youth leaders committed themselves to harness the power of youth and the community in advocating for and actively participating in malaria interventions. They reaffirmed their readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders to end malaria and other pressing health challenges in Africa.

Youth leaders expressed their gratitude to the Government and People of the Republic of Senegal for hosting the 5th Anniversary of the Zero Malaria Starts With Me Campaign. The declaration was made at Dakar, Senegal, on 7 July 2023.

About Zero Malaria Starts With Me:

The Zero Malaria Starts With Me campaign is a continent-wide initiative to eliminate malaria across Africa. It is co-led by the African Union Commission and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, and is supported by multiple partners, including African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). The campaign engages all members of society to end malaria, a preventable and treatable disease that continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year.