GABORONE, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Botswanan President Duma Boko on Thursday called for strengthened political leadership, sustainable financing and regional cooperation to accelerate malaria elimination across Africa.
Speaking at the High-Level Dialogue on Malaria Elimination in Gaborone, the country's capital, Boko highlighted the concerning resurgence of malaria in Botswana, with cases increasing from 290 in 2024 to 2451 in 2025, alongside a rise in deaths from two to 16.
He emphasized the importance of implementing Botswana's National Malaria Strategic Plan 2025-2029, which prioritizes surveillance, vector control, timely diagnosis and treatment, community participation and cross-border collaboration.
Boko, who also chairs the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), further called on governments and development partners to explore innovative financing mechanisms and strengthen domestic resource mobilization, noting that malaria elimination requires a collective national and continental effort.
He reaffirmed Botswana's commitment to working with ALMA, the RBM (Roll Back Malaria) Partnership to End Malaria, the World Health Organization and regional partners towards a malaria-free Africa.
"Let us move together from commitment to implementation," Boko urged.
Botswana's Minister of Health Stephen Modise stressed Botswana's commitment to achieving zero indigenous malaria transmission and sustaining a malaria-free status, saying that malaria elimination is a national development priority and an important part of the country's commitment to Universal Health Coverage.
Climate variability, population mobility, cross-border transmission and competing health financing demands remained challenges to achieving the goal, he noted.
Joy Phumaphi, the board chairperson of RBM Partnership to End Malaria, called on African countries to strengthen domestic health financing and coordinate efforts to accelerate malaria elimination, urging governments, development partners, the private sector and communities to work together towards ending malaria.
The event brought together regional and national health leaders, policymakers and key stakeholders to strengthen collective efforts towards malaria elimination across Africa. ■