Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs

Melinda French Gates
June 23, 2022
AS PREPARED

Thank you, President Kagame, for welcoming us. And warm greetings to all the dignitaries and partners here today. I am so happy to be in Africa again, and it’s an honor to be here with you.

As I look out at this distinguished crowd, I’m mindful that one important face is missing: Dr. Malecela, the World Health Organization’s director of neglected tropical diseases, who passed away earlier this year.

Dr. Malecela wasn’t just committed to ending diseases that are neglected—she worked tirelessly to reach the people who are most often overlooked. I know that this same spirit guides so many of you in this room today.

Over the past few decades, it has been inspiring to see the way leaders have come together to combat malaria and neglected tropical diseases.

Multilateral organizations. Donor nations. Pharmaceutical companies. And most of all, leaders across Africa and around the world, from government officials and health workers to advocates and scientists.

Thanks to these efforts, malaria deaths have been cut in half. The number of people requiring treatment for NTDs has fallen by 300 million.

Guinea worm has gone from infecting more than 3 million people a year to only fifteen. Not fifteen thousand, or fifteen hundred. Just fifteen. Here in Rwanda, sleeping sickness has been eliminated.

This progress is remarkable. It reminds us what’s possible—but unfortunately, this progress has stalled in too many cases.

Funding for malaria and NTDs has plateaued. Malaria deaths are rising. And while amazing new tools and treatments are emerging, they may not reach those who need them most.

We have to do more. And when I say we, I mean all of us—no nation or organization can do this work alone.

For our part, the Gates Foundation is stepping up our commitment by pledging $140 million over four years to support African institutions in fighting malaria.

We’ll also be launching a new philanthropic fund to combat NTDs in collaboration with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the ELMA Philanthropies.

In memory of Dr. Malecela—who understood what’s possible when women and girls lead—we’re partnering with W-H-O to support a program to develop women leaders to combat NTDs.

And we’re calling on world leaders to take two important actions:

First, we’re asking everyone here to endorse the Kigali Declaration on NTDs. By 2030, we can eliminate NTDs in 100 countries.

Second, we’re asking everyone to increase their commitment to the Global Fund. If the Global Fund hits its $18 billion replenishment target, malaria cases will fall by two-thirds by 2026.

With this support, Africans and their partners can accelerate health R&D.

They can use smart tools and systems to track diseases and deliver treatments tailored to each community.

They can strengthen the primary health systems that save lives.

And through it all, in the spirit of Dr. Malecela, we can make sure the focus stays on those too often left behind.

Thank you.