Yemisi Izuora
Key African organizations are driving momentum among policymakers ahead of the Kigali Summit in June.
A new pan-African campaign, ‘March to Kigali’, launched on World Health Day this year, seeks to build momentum and galvanize action among African policymakers in the lead up to the Commonwealth Heads of State Summit (CHOGM) in Kigali in June 2021.
‘March to Kigali’ calls upon governments and partners across Africa to commit to, and prioritize, investments against malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Launched by a group of like-minded civil society organizations based in West and Central Africa, the campaign builds on the existing partnerships of its “No to NTDs” and “Zero Malaria Starts With Me” platforms.
‘March to Kigali’ aims to foster the commitments needed to achieve the elimination of these diseases by 2030 in the drive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By engaging key stakeholders and groups, the campaign aims to: Increase public awareness and engagement on NTDs and malaria, Generate demand for increased funding and better management of NTDs and malaria, Encourage the adoption of a multi-sector approach at the country level, Strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to contribute to advocacy and communication efforts against the diseases and Mobilize businesses and business leaders to commit to the control and elimination of malaria
and NTDs.
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone commented: “African countries in the Commonwealth and beyond must play a leading role in investing in stronger health and sanitation systems in order to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, including ending the epidemics of malaria and neglected tropical diseases. By ending these preventable and treatable diseases we will be investing in our children’s futures and helping to unleash unimaginable levels of growth and prosperity. Together, let’s March to Kigali!”
