The African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) hosted the first Africa Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Youth Corps Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. 

The event brought together a diverse group of young leaders from 16 countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea, Mozambique, Ghana, Nigeria, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Liberia, and Uganda.

Critical Partners in the Malaria and NTD fight such as the Global Fund, Malaria No More UK and RBM were also in attendance and shared valuable insight on possible funding opportunities. 

The forum served as a platform for knowledge sharing, fostering collaboration, and deliberating actionable strategies to combat malaria and NTDs across the continent. “It is imperative that we adopt non-traditional messaging modalities. Realising our global vision to #EndMalaria requires that we embrace smart and innovative solutions that help us yield results,” said Dr Irenee Umulisa, the senior programme officer at ALMA.

Representing Namibia, were Mostert Simasiku, the Malaria Youth Corps Namibia chairperson and Helena Shigwedha, deputy chairperson who in their presentation emphasised the importance of youth engagement as well as their involvement in the fight to eradicate malaria.

Simasiku added that the youth should be seen as valuable partners in these efforts.

“With the ambitious goal of achieving a malaria-free Africa by 2030, the forum addressed pressing challenges, reviewed innovative solutions, and reinforced political commitments essential to accelerating progress,” she said.

Under the theme ‘Zero-Malaria’ the event emphasized the importance of a united and innovative approach in mitigating the risks, empowering communities to be resilient and partnerships to address sustainable means to address these diseases that affect so many African communities.

-pmukokobi@nepc.com.na