As Africa works towards malaria elimination by 2030, Members of Parliament ( MPs) from 16 African countries have launched the Coalition of African Parliamentarians to fight Malaria (COPEMA), intended to accelerate the fight against the disease.
The MPs, most of whom are from High Burden High Impact ( HBHI) countries launched COPEMA during the regional strategic forum in Ghana from 28-29th April. The forum was organized to validate and strengthen COPEMA’s structure, strategic plan, and advance malaria prevention. Olivia Ngou, Executive Director of Impact Santé Afrique ( ISA) coordinated the forum. ISA is the COPEMA secretariat.
The launch of the continental initiative to roll back malaria brought together MPs from Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Togo, Madagascar, Chad, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, Djibouti, Nigeria, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi, Central African Republic, Botswana, Rwanda and India.
Managers of National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCPs) from 15 African countries, global and regional malaria experts, civil society actors, and development partners took part in the launch of the landmark malaria elimination initiative.
Also present at the groundbreaking event were representatives from the Ghana Ministry of Health, the Pan-African Parliament, Africa CDC, the Global Fund, WHO, RBM Partnership to End Malaria, Afrika Kwanza Health Impact, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, and CS4ME members in the likes of Hope for Future Generations.
COPEMA : Reigniting Political leadership in Malaria Elimination
COPEMA’s launch marks a crucial milestone for malaria elimination efforts in the African continent.
Launched barely over a year after it was established during the Malaria Ministers Forum and Regional Malaria forum in Cameroon in March 2024, COPEMA is a continental approach to rolling back Malaria.
According to Honorable Santa Okot of Uganda, Co-Chair of COPEMA, the launch of the organ “is not just symbolic, but marks the beginning of a concrete political movement.”
COPEMA will strengthen collaboration between National Malaria Control Programmes ( NMCPs) and spur governments to step up national budgets as Africa intensifies efforts to eliminate the disease by 2030.
Following the launch of COPEMA, MPs went on to adopt the Accra Parliamentarian Declaration. The declaration is a unanimous agreement in favour of increased domestic financing, better accountability mechanisms, and improved collaboration with NMCPs and civil society.
The Accra Parliamentarian Declaration is also a clarion call for governments in Africa to integrate malaria funding into national budgets.
Africa’s Malaria Report
Despite decades of progress in the fight against the disease, malaria still disproportionately affects children under five, and pregnant women in Africa.
According to the World Health Organization’s 2024 World Malaria Report, 263 million people suffered from malaria, resulting in approximately 597,000 deaths globally in 2023.
The African region alone accounted for about 95% of these deaths, with children under five representing 76% of the lives lost.
These high figures are linked to challenges in the fight against the disease, ranging from growing insecticide and drug resistance, persistent funding gaps threatening malaria control and elimination progress in the continent, particularly the recent suspension of funding for malaria prevention and control efforts by PMI and USAIDS.
How will parliamentarians turn the tide ?
The launch of COPEMA puts Africa en route to achieving a malaria-free -continent by 2030. But successfully eliminating the disease across the country will require a sustained political commitment and coordinated action from actors across the board.
“We are committed to holding our governments accountable and ensuring malaria financing is prioritized in national budgets,” Honorable Njume Peter of Cameroon, COPEMA Co-chair said.
To make malaria elimination in Africa possible, COPEMA will also permit MPs to build synergies with civil society, local councils and business organisations in order to mobilize funds, especially locally, for the fight against the disease.
The MPs are also working on setting up and formalizing COPEMA country chapters to keep their commitments in check, and ensure engagement at the national level. In June 2025, the MPs will meet again to share experiences, review progress, and strengthen coordination across countries.
Kathy Neba Sina
