Global leaders led by African heads of state have announced commitments totaling $4 billion to accelerate progress against malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) at the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs.

The pledges include $140 million over four years from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in support of new initiatives. In addition, the foundation will help establish the Mwele Malecela Mentorship Program for Women in NTDs in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and to launch Accelerate Resilient, Innovative, and Sustainable Elimination of NTDs (ARISE) in collaboration with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the ELMA Philanthropies. 

Private-sector organizations made a range of commitments encompassing increased research funding, enhancing local manufacturing capacity, including BioNTech’s pledge to produce new generation vaccines locally, leveraging mRNA technology. Pfizer committed to extend its antibiotic donation program through 2030, GSK reaffirmed its commitment to donate albendazole until elimination of lymphatic filariasis, and Novartis is investing $250 million to advance R&D into new treatments to combat NTDs and malaria, including $100 million to advance R&D of its NTD program. 

“Ensuring that all African countries mobilise the domestic financial resources required for quality health care, is a priority for the African Union, and our partners,” said Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda. “If there is one thing the pandemic has taught us, it is that together, through coordinated and collaborative action, we can achieve much more.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Hailshadow)