Asia-Pacific: Two Initiatives To Eliminate Malaria Once And For All

For the first time in history, the elimination of malaria is within reach in the Asia Pacific, according to experts. The world is, indeed, witnessing unprecedented progress in the global effort to eliminate the disease. However, some challenges – such as a looming funding gap that threatens critical malaria-elimination – put at risk the recent improvement.

The elimination of malaria is within reach in the Asia-Pacific.

In order to face this challenge, the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA) announced – today at the World Economic Forum on ASEAN – support for two new initiatives, Blended Finance for Impact and M2030.

As stated in the press release, external grant funding to support malaria elimination is expected to decline in the region.

“This presents an urgent need to create initiatives to sustain the political commitment to end malaria,” it says. “It also requires unconventional financing solutions to ensure that vital elimination activities are funded, critical gaps are filled and access to health services are expanded across borders.”

Blended Finance for Impact is a partnership of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and APLMA to enable and increase long-term integrated financing for health, including malaria.

M2030 aims to bring together some of the most influential businesses in Asia to raise funds, engage consumers as agents of change and sustain political support for malaria elimination. In line with the objectives of Blended Finance for Impact, the ADB today announced a new Regional Health Fund.

The press release is available here.

 

Combat the infodemic in health information and support health policy reporting from the global South. Our growing network of journalists in Africa, Asia, Geneva and New York connect the dots between regional realities and the big global debates, with evidence-based, open access news and analysis. To make a personal or organisational contribution click here on PayPal.