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African nations expected to reaffirm health commitment as Abuja Summit begins

11 July 2013

Child and key Abuja figures

High-level representatives of the African Union are gathered in Nigeria for five days to stress the continent’s commitment to the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. This year’s Abuja+12 Special Summit coincides with the 12th anniversary of the Abuja Declaration and the 50th of the African Union.

Heads of state and government from the African Union, development partners, members of the civil society and Roll Back Malaria representatives are now attending ‘Ownership, Accountability and Sustainability of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Response in Africa: Past, Present and the Future'.

The Abuja+12 Summit will review the status of African governments' investment in these diseases and will adopt actions to tackle them. Proposed responses include ensuring universal access to services and strengthening health systems, especially for poor and marginalised people. 

Roll Back Malaria will represent the malaria community, presenting  to heads of state, ministers of health and heads of agencies key messages to support the ten hardest-hit countries in Africa: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.

The progress of the Abuja declaration, 12 years on

In the wake of the September 2000 Millennium Summit, in April 2001 African Union countries meeting in Abuja pledged to increase government funding for health to at least 15%, and urged donor countries to scale up support. Only six countries have reached that target: Rwanda, Liberia, Malawi, Zambia, Togo and Madagascar.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the African Union. In a statement, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan highlighted the need of leadership, resource mobilisation, quality partnership, protection of human rights, poverty reduction and health system strengthening to ensure a disease free continent.

He said: "African Union Member States with the support of our development partners have through the years sought to implement these commitments with significant results to demonstrate. However, there have been challenges along the way and therefore we need as a continent to take stock of the road thus far."

Malaria key facts and figures

  • In African Union Member States, where about 90% of annual malaria deaths occur, malaria deaths have been cut by one third in the past decade
  • In Africa, an estimated 10 new cases of malaria still occur every second
  • Globally, malaria funding increased from less than US$100 million in 2000 to US$1.8 billion in 2012
  • Africa still needs to mobilise an additional $3.6 billion to fully fund malaria control plans from 2013 to 2015
  • Malaria costs African Union Member States at least $12 billion every year in lost productivity
  • In Africa, an estimated 40% of health resources are used to treat malaria
  • When combined with HIV, malaria is even more deadly, particularly for pregnant women and children

 

Further information