Armed with an innovative new management tool, the African Leaders
Malaria Alliance is making vital progress
Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
Tuesday September 27 2011
guardian.co.uk
In Africa, we used to track malaria by metrics of despair - cases and
deaths, wasted life and squandered opportunity. We tracked numbing
statistics like the million Africans who died annually from this
preventable disease a decade ago. Today, however, we track malaria by
statistics of progress and momentum. We count the 11 countries that
have reduced malaria deaths by more than 50% since 2000. We count more
than 300m lifesaving mosquito nets now being delivered across the
continent. We track improved school attendance, the eased burden on
health systems and a stronger workforce.
These gains are inspiring, but fragile. Progress is made possible by
two things: first, genuine African ownership and commitment within and
across our borders; and second, dependable international funding for
programmes that demonstrate real results. The world is rallying to
bring malaria deaths in Africa to near zero by 2015. Attaining that
will be a tremendous humanitarian feat. But it is up to Africa - its
leaders and its people - to see it through.
That is the purpose of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance [http://
www.alma2015.org/" title="], or Alma: a coalition of African heads of
state from 40 countries spearheading the fight against malaria. Alma
offers a compelling example of what is possible through co-operation,
leadership, commitment, and sound management of national and
international funds.
Last week, we launched the Alma scorecard for accountability and
action [http://www.alma2015.org/alma-scorecard-accountability-and-
action" title="], a groundbreaking management tool that tracks
Africa's progress in dealing with the disease. Updated quarterly and
published with data from reliable sources like the World Health
Organisation, the scorecard allows us to measure our own performance
against a set of key malaria metrics including national policies,
financial controls, delivery of prevention and treatment commodities,
and, most importantly, lives saved. It also provides a window into the
broader maternal and child health efforts in Africa, of which malaria
control is a crucial part.
For the first time, African heads of state and ministers can see at a
glance how their country is faring in the fight against malaria,
relative to both the targets set and other countries. The scorecard
helps those of us at the top of African government see exactly how we
measure up in the malaria fight, informing policy decisions and
prompting swift action to stay - or get back - on track.
The most recent scorecard reports on progress against malaria in
several countries, including: the removal of all taxes and tariffs on
anti-malarial commodities by Angola and Burundi; universal mosquito
net coverage in Rwanda to successfully reverse an increase in malaria
cases; the distribution of 8.9m nets in Ivory Coast after overcoming
operational challenges; and full financing for nets needed in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2011.
So much of our progress is due to the support of global donors, led by
the UK and US, which support malaria control efforts directly. Support
also comes from institutions such as the World Bank and the Global
Fund to Fight Aids, TB, and Malaria [http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/"
title="]. We know that only continued partnership and funding will
allow us to sustain the gains we've made.
Global dollars are essential to this success, but the buck stops with
us. As heads of state and government, we are ultimately responsible
for demonstrating that aid is being used wisely, effectively and
efficiently. We are responsible for the wellbeing of our citizens, who
have put their trust in us. We are responsible for good stewardship of
vital aid dollars. And we are responsible for meeting the health goals
we've set.
When we look at the Alma scorecard, we see concrete results. But it is
the families across Africa - those living healthier and more
productive lives, free from malaria - that will be the greatest
measure of our success.
guardian.co.uk Copyright (c) Guardian News and Media Limited. 2011
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