Delegates from the AU Commission and AIDS Watch Africa Secretariat joined Commonwealth leaders gathered in Kigali, Rwanda last week for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Alongside this meeting was the Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, hosted by the Government of Rwanda and convened by the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and Uniting to Combat NTDs.

The malaria and NTD summit was attended by heads of government, minsters of health, WHO leaders, philanthropists, the private sector, scientific experts, UN and bilaterla partners and youth and community champions.

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. National End Malaria Councils and the ALMA Malaria Youth Army – both priority areas in the legacy agenda of our ALMA Chair, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya – were highlighted at the summit as key components in the fight against malaria.

US$ 4.5 billion was committed to being directed to accelerating progress against malaria and NTDs by governments, international organisations, philanthropists and the private sector

In support of Malaria No More’s second phase of the Draw the Line Against Malaria campaign, members of the ALMA Youth Advisory Council as well as Kenya and Rwanda Malaria Youth Armies joined other advocates in delivering a call to action to world leaders to urgently act against malaria. Youth champions delivered this message at the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs on 23 June.

View the outcome statement of The Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)