African leaders renew commitment to tackle malaria

The tool known as the African Leaders Malaria Alliance Scorecard for Accountability and Action was created at the request of Heads of State and Government from 40 African countries. 

The ALMA Scorecard for Accountability and Action launched at the United Nations general assembly tracks country progress toward vital targets including financing and delivery of malaria commodities like mosquito nets, key policy issues for malaria control and overall malaria mortality. 

It also has the potentials of tracking tracer indicators for maternal, newborn and child health. 

The leaders agreed that efficient and effective delivery of malaria interventions was dependent on robust maternal, newborn and child health services. 

The scorecard would be updated monthly and published on the ALMA website and would serve as an essential tool for achieving the global goal of near zero malaria deaths by 2015. 

It would also alerts leaders on progress and gaps in their country’s efforts against malaria—prompting those at the highest levels of government as well as partners to take swift and decisive action to address obstacles, implements new policies and ultimately save lives. 

“In this way, African leaders are holding themselves and each other accountable for delivering against malaria goals and demonstrating effective and efficient use of precious national and international resources. 

Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania said the scorecard for accountability and action measures progress and also inspires action by African Heads of State and Government.

 Kikwete, who is also Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance said: “we, the leaders of Africa, are ultimately responsible for keeping our citizens safe from malaria. With the help of this new tool, we are committed to delivering on our promise to end malaria deaths for our citizens and for all of Africa 

 “Africa is pursuing ambitious targets against malaria and having timely, trusted data is critical to reaching our goals,” said Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary of ALMA. 

“Armed with this information, African leaders and partners can make policy decisions and demand action that will help countries rapidly improve their efforts against malaria,” Phumaphi said.

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Posted by AfricaSTI on September 26, 2011. Filed under Health, Lead Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry