The Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Honourable General (Rtd) Dr Constantino D. G. N. Chiwenga launched the ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me,’ Campaign during the SADC Malaria Day commemorations in Murehwa.
The SADC Ministers of Health and various government officials including the Health Service Commission Deputy Chairperson Dr Rugare Abigail Kangwende, Commissioner Mercy Gwaunza, Commissioner Mwakutuya and Secretary Dr Christopher Pasi joined the Murehwa community in commemorating the 2024 SADC Malaria Day.
The SADC Malaria Day is an important event which brings together the region’s Ministries of Health, leaders, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and community representatives, inspired by passion, unity, and determination to eliminate malaria in Southern Africa.
The Vice President highlighted that efforts in building resilient health systems must be holistic and grounded in the principles of universal health coverage, to improve the accessibility of malaria testing and treatment services. He said by so doing, every citizen will have the correct information on malaria prevention, control, and elimination, regardless of their geographical location.
Honourable General (Rtd) Dr Chiwenga underscored the importance of engaging communities in the fight against malaria, as they are key in ensuring that the regional efforts are sustainable and resilient. He noted that communities living along borders often face unique challenges, including frequent movement between countries and inconsistent healthcare services, making them more vulnerable to malaria. In that regard, community participation and ownership of malaria prevention control, and elimination initiatives must be at the core of our strategy.
He commended the community health workers and volunteers for the critical role they play in malaria elimination efforts across our region, often working tirelessly under challenging conditions, to bring life-saving information, diagnostics, and treatment to the doorsteps of those most in need.
Based on the theme and slogan “Resilient Health Systems and Communities: Key to Malaria Elimination,” and “Timely Access to Malaria Services, Everyone’s Right,” he underscored that malaria elimination cannot be achieved without robust health systems that can be accessed by all citizens, including the most vulnerable.
Ms. Angele Makombo Ntumba, the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration commended Member States who have not only launched the Zero Malaria Starts with Me Campaigns but have also established End Malaria Councils and Funds to increase domestic financing for malaria elimination and accountability. She noted that the SADC region has witnessed increased cross border collaboration among the Member States as well as harmonization of policies.
She outlined some key concerns which includes the effects of climate change such as floods, cyclones with serious resultant malaria outbreaks which the region has experienced in recent years.
For her part, Professor Sheila Tlou, Ambassador for African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) highlighted that this year’s theme, ‘Resilient Health Systems and Communities: Key to Malaria Elimination,’ and the slogan “Timely access to malaria services, Everyone’s right”. underscores the crucial importance of building strong, adaptable health systems and engaged communities. Thus, highlighting how a coordinated effort between well-prepared health infrastructures and active community participation is essential in effectively combating and ultimately eliminating malaria.
She applauded the SADC Member States for their continued efforts and active implementation of the SADC Regional Malaria Elimination Strategy, demonstrating their strong political resolve to eliminate malaria by 2030 as outlined in the Windhoek Declaration on Eliminating Malaria of 2018.
The Windhoek Declaration on Eliminating Malaria in the SADC Region is a commitment made by 16 Member States poised to eliminate malaria by 2030. The declaration was signed on August 18, 2018, by the SADC Heads of State and Government.
The Declaration calls for the expansion of data sharing, collaboration and programme implementation, increased funding for malaria from SADC Member States and adoption of supportive policies for malaria elimination, as well as the establishment of national malaria elimination taskforces.
By launching “Zero Malaria Starts With Me,” the Republic of Zimbabwe was joining 24 other African countries that have already launched the campaign. The Zero Malaria Starts with Me campaign originated in Senegal in 2014 as a nationwide citizen movement to increase awareness about malaria, thus making malaria elimination a political priority. Of the 24 countries who have already launched “Zero Malaria Starts With Me”, 8 of those namely; Democratic Republic of Congo, Kingdom of Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia are SADC Member States.
The campaign has since transformed into a continent-wide force. In July 2018 African Union Heads of State and Government endorsed the campaign in support of the African Union goal to end malaria by 2030, turning it from a nationwide campaign to a Pan-African movement.
The ‘Zero Malaria Starts With Me’ campaign is based on three pillars of political engagement, private-sector engagement, and community engagement. These pillars lay the foundation to keep malaria high on the political agenda, raise funds to support malaria work and to activate everyone from Heads of State to community members to work in unison to eliminate malaria in Africa by 2030.
There was a general call for increased financing for malaria to fast track the SADC malaria elimination agenda which is currently lagging behind.
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