Botswana's President Duma Boko, chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, called for a comprehensive approach to fight malaria during his speech at the 38th AU Summit.
"I call on all member states to ratify the African Medicines Agency Treaty. Multi-sectoral action is critical. Requiring coordinated efforts across agriculture, education, environment, local government, and infrastructure," he said.
The Treaty for the establishment of the African Medicines Agency was adopted in 2019, proposing to create the African Medicines Agency (AMA) within the framework of the African Union.
In his speech, Boko advocated a holistic approach that integrates malaria elimination with broader priorities like primary health care, pandemic preparedness, gender equity, and climate resilience, a Sputnik Africa correspondent reported.
"Our response must be bold. It must be decisive. We must change the story and accelerate progress to achieve our catalytic framework to end AIDS, TB, and eliminate malaria in Africa by 2030," the president said.
The 38th AU Summit is taking place in Addis Ababa from February 15 to 16. It is dedicated to promoting restorative justice and racial healing on the continent.