Parliamentarians launch Pan-African Coalition to End Malaria

CAMEROON— Parliamentarians from 16 African countries gathered in Accra, Ghana, on April 28–29, 2025, to officially launch COPEMA—the Coalition of Parliamentarians to End Malaria in Africa.

This new coalition aims to reignite political leadership and strengthen domestic efforts to combat malaria, a disease that continues to claim over 600,000 lives annually in Africa, accounting for 95% of global malaria deaths.

The launch comes one year after the African Ministerial Yaoundé Declaration and arrives at a critical time when the continent faces growing challenges such as declining international aid, increasing resistance to insecticides and drugs, and persistent funding gaps that threaten malaria control and elimination progress.

 The two-day forum in Accra brought together parliamentarians, national malaria control program (NMCP) managers from 15 countries, global and regional malaria experts, civil society representatives, and development partners.

Key institutions represented included the Ghana Ministry of Health, Pan-African Parliament, Africa CDC, Global Fund, WHO, RBM Partnership to End Malaria, and civil society groups like Hope for Future Generations.

The discussions highlighted a shared understanding that ending malaria requires strong political leadership to mobilize domestic resources, adopt innovative prevention methods, and ensure interventions are tailored to local contexts, data-driven, and equitably delivered.

 Honourable Santa Okot of Uganda, COPEMA co-chair, emphasized that the coalition’s launch is more than symbolic; it marks the start of a concrete political movement.

Similarly, Honourable Njume Peter of Cameroon, COPEMA Co-Chair, pledged commitment to holding governments accountable and prioritizing malaria financing in national budgets.

Parliamentarians committed to working closely with NMCPs and civil society to increase funding for malaria control across Africa.

Following the forum, they adopted the Accra Parliamentarian Declaration, a unified call to action urging governments to boost domestic financing, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and enhance collaboration with malaria control programs and civil society.

The declaration stresses the urgent need to integrate malaria funding into national budgets to sustain progress against the disease.

With malaria disproportionately affecting children under five and pregnant women, the coalition underscores the importance of targeted, locally adapted strategies to reach the most vulnerable communities.

The launch of COPEMA coincides with the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, signaling a new era of political engagement based on shared responsibility and national leadership

In the coming weeks, COPEMA plans to establish country chapters to maintain national-level engagement and follow through on commitments.

A follow-up meeting is scheduled for June 2025 to review progress, share experiences, and strengthen coordination among member countries.

This initiative reflects a growing recognition that sustained political will and increased domestic investment are essential to ending malaria in Africa, which could also yield substantial economic benefits.

According to the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, reducing malaria burden by 90% by 2030 could increase Africa’s GDP by approximately US$127 billion.

COPEMA aims to be a driving force behind this transformation, empowering parliamentarians to champion malaria elimination across the continent.

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