East Africa Community Cross-Border Collaboration Against Malaria 

By Cynthia E. Pacutho, Administrator RMPU

On 19th August 2021, Tanzania Parliamentarians against Malaria (TAPAMA) and Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Malaria (UPFM) met at the Parliament of Uganda in Kampala. Also in attendance were key stakeholders; Uganda’s National Malaria Control Division (NMCD), Target Malaria Uganda and Malaria Partners Uganda (MPU). The auspicious meeting was the first of its kind following a proposal at the East African Healthcare Investment Summit held on April, 27th 2019 in London, UK for Parliamentary Advocacy groups in the East African Community (EAC) to discuss collaboration in the fight against Malaria.

In light of transmission risks associated with cross border movements, the MPs acknowledged the urgency of Malaria mainstreaming amongst partner States in order to control infections and eradicate Malaria by 2030. Thus the meeting resolved to form East African Parliamentarians Against Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (EAPAM/NTD). The MPs also resolved to lobby for other Legislators from partner States; Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan, ahead of the next meeting to be held in Arusha, Tanzania. The respective Secretariats agreed to coordinate, over a period of one month, the roadmap preceding the launch of the EAPAM/NTD.

MPU’s strategy to develop a novel model of Malaria Advocacy replicable across the region is poised to align with the Legislators’ aspirations through defining the socio-economic effects of Malaria, triggering intentional Malaria control and prevention behavior amongst populations and steering stakeholders away from being Merchants of Death towards effectively influencing national Policy around Malaria elimination.