The world leaders gathered at the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs resolved to meet the current challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic head on, by making firm commitments towards endingthese devastating diseases by the end of the decade.
The Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) was convened on Thursday June 23rd 2022, alongside the 2022 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting. The summit attending Heads of state and Government, honourable Ministers, leaders from the private sector, philanthropy, academia and research, members of civil society and affected communities, youth delegates and all other stakeholders who joined the event.
The Kigali Summit represented a vital moment in the fight against Malaria and NTDs. Against the backdrop of disruptions of essential services and supply chains during the covid-19 pandemic and plateauing of funding, rapidly increasing population and widespread biological challenges such as insecticide and drug resistance, the work to eliminate these diseases has stalled and even reversed in some countries.
« To accelerate this work both through commitments to finance essential programmes and treatments and by backing the scientific innovations that are crucial to the ending of Malaria and NTDss »
The world leaders gathered at the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs resolved to meet the current challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic head on, by making firm commitments towards ending these devastating diseases by the end of the decade. Leaders vowed to accelerate this work both through commitments to finance essential programmes and treatments and by backing the scientific innovations that are crucial to the ending of Malaria and NTDss. Leaders stressed how vital this work is, both to protect the lives and health of over a billion citizens directly threatened by Malaria and NTDs, and also, through strengthening front line health systems, to defend the whole world’s population from future pandemic threats.
In the fight against Malaria, the Summit represents an important milestone ahead of the seventh replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria later this year. Clear commitment was shown by leaders attending the summit to the replenishment. The Government of
Rwanda, as hosts, called on all attending state and non-state actors to ensure that the replenishment conference is a full success and the investment target of at least $18 billion is met. Eligible Malaria endemic countries demonstrated their leadership by committing domestic funding of $2.18 billion in 2022 and 2023 as part of their Global Funding counterpart fundings, with further increases expected in 2024-2026.
On NTDs, President Paul Kagame launched the ground-breaking Kigali Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases. Endorsement of the Declaration has galvanised the political will, ambition and financial commitments and created the momentum to deliver the WHO’s NTD road map (2021-2030). The Kigali Declaration has secured substantial commitments by donor governments, endemic country governments, pharmaceutical companies, NGOs and others including over $1.4 billion in financial commitments, 18 billion tablets donated by 9 industry partners and $562 million in other health products.
Throughout the summit, experts discussed integrated approaches, the importance of continued innovation and ensuring access to new tools and interventions, efficient and data driven use of existing resources and the need for sustained financing and resource mobilisation, including from non-traditional sources. During these discussions, commitments from a range of actors vital to elimination were made.
« Only through continued country ownership, political commitment, accountability and great partnership can we ensure progress is accelerated over the coming months »
Commitments were made by a number of governments to support the Malaria and NTD fight. These featured commitments to domestic resources, co-financing and support for innovation.
Private sector organisations made a range of commitments including donations of drugs and health products, research funding, enhancing local manufacturing capacity, co-financing initiatives to unlock larger private sector funding.
These groupings made substantial commitments across areas including research funding, new treatments for NTDs, prevention delivery and treatment, as well as strengthening institutions in Africa.
Civil society organisations made significant commitments to support Malaria and NTD programming,including major resource mobilisation pledges and community engagement.
Finally, it was recognised that to achieve success the summit must not be an event in isolation. As hosts, the Government of Rwanda called on leaders to ensure that the momentum from today’s meeting be continued. « Only through continued country ownership, political commitment, accountability and great partnership can we ensure progress is accelerated over the coming months » he said.
