African Parliamentarians Launch COPEMA to Intensify the Fight Against Malaria in Africa
Parliamentarians from 16 African countries have come together in a historic move to launch the Coalition of Parliamentarians to End Malaria in Africa (COPEMA). The high-level forum, held in Accra from April 28 to 29, 2025, marked the official establishment of the coalition, signaling a renewed political commitment to eradicate malaria across the continent.
The launch, which took place one year after the Yaoundé Declaration by African health ministers, addressed the urgent need to revitalize political leadership amid pressing challenges.
These include declining international funding, the rise of insecticide and drug resistance, and persistent financial gaps that threaten to reverse progress in malaria control and elimination efforts.
Attended by parliamentarians, national malaria control program (NMCP) managers from 15 countries, civil society organizations, development partners, and global health institutions, the forum represented a united front in tackling the malaria crisis.
Key institutions present included the Ghana Ministry of Health, the Africa CDC, WHO, the Global Fund, the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, the Pan-African Parliament, Impact Santé Afrique, Afrika Kwanza Health Impact, and members of the Civil Society for Malaria Elimination (CS4ME).
Discussions during the two-day event emphasized the need for context-specific, data-driven, and equitable interventions. Participants agreed that eliminating malaria in Africa requires strong political leadership, increased domestic financing, and closer collaboration between governments, NMCPs, and civil society.
“The launch of COPEMA is not just symbolic; it marks the beginning of a concrete political movement,” said Honorable Santa Okot of Uganda, Co-Chair of COPEMA. “We are committed to holding our governments accountable and ensuring malaria financing is prioritized in national budgets,” added Honorable Njume Peter of Cameroon, COPEMA Co-Chair.
A key outcome of the event was the adoption of the Accra Parliamentarian Declaration, a unified call to action. The declaration urges African governments to integrate malaria funding into national budgets, reinforce accountability mechanisms, and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders. It also highlights the urgency of implementing high-impact, locally tailored strategies to protect the most vulnerable communities, especially as over 600,000 people — 95% of them in Africa — die from malaria annually.
As global health leaders gather this month for the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, the launch of COPEMA signals a new era of political engagement in the fight against malaria. It demonstrates Africa’s resolve to lead its own efforts through legislative action and national ownership.
Looking ahead, parliamentarians will begin establishing COPEMA chapters at the national level to sustain momentum and ensure consistent follow-through on commitments. A follow-up meeting is planned for June 2025, where members will reconvene to assess progress, share best practices, and reinforce inter-country collaboration.
