Forum on rising to the challenge of malaria eradication

11 September 2019

This photo story captures highlights from the forum on "Rising to the Challenge of Malaria Eradication” held on 9 September in Geneva. Led by the WHO Director-General, the forum highlighted the opportunities and challenges in achieving a world free of malaria. The WHO Strategic Advisory Group on Malaria Eradication presented its recent findings, including the need for greater investment in new tools for malaria prevention and treatment, improved surveillance to guide a more targeted malaria response, and progress in advancing universal health coverage. The forum also included a presentation from the Lancet Commission for Malaria Eradication.

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Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

“Scaling up coverage of effective malaria control tools in the 29 highest-burden countries would yield an estimated gain in Gross Domestic Product of 283 billion US dollars – which is 8 times more than the associated costs of 35 billion dollars,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Our fight against malaria is therefore not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.” 

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Dr Tedros, WHO Director-General

“But there is no silver bullet for malaria. We need a package of tools that can permanently reduce transmission to zero and wipe out the reservoir of malaria parasites in humans,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “ The Malaria Eradication Research Agenda provides a useful starting point to guide R&D investment to develop these transformative tools.”

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Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of WHO’s Global Malaria Programme

Speaking about the journey of malaria eradication since 1955, Dr Pedro Alonso, Director of WHO’s Global Malaria Programme, stressed the importance of focusing on the global goals for malaria as explained in the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030, adding to partners, “We are sure we can get back on track with your help.”

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Dr Marcel Tanner, Chair of SAGme and an author of the executive summary

“A world free of malaria is a major goal of global health, unequivocally embraced by the World Health Organization soon after its founding in 1948. This aspiration has energized and inspired generations of health workers, malaria experts and global health leaders alike,” said Dr Marcel Tanner, one of the authors of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group on Malaria Eradication (SAGme) executive summary. 

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Dr Richard Feachem, an author of the Lancet Commission on malaria eradication

Presenting the Lancet Commission on malaria eradication, one of its authors, Dr Richard Feachem, agreed with the WHO Strategic Advisory Group on Malaria Eradication (SAGme) that eradicating malaria requires strong and committed leadership and governance, increased financing and new tools and strategies.

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Mr Peter Sands, Executive Director of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Mr Peter Sands, Executive Director of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said a malaria-free world could not happen without access to universal health coverage. 

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Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, CEO, RBM Partnership to End Malaria

Citing the importance of partners, Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, CEO, RBM Partnership to End Malaria, said, “No one single entity can do this. We need all stakeholders involved in fighting against malaria.”

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Hon Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health of Uganda

“Everything rises and falls on leadership,” said Hon Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health of Uganda, referring to her government’s drive to end malaria. “Malaria elimination is seen as feasible in Uganda,” she said. 

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Dr Tedros, WHO Director-General and Hon Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health of Uganda

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Hon Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health of Uganda shake hands after her keynote address at the WHO-hosted forum on "Rising to the Challenge of Malaria Eradication".

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