Malawi – February 2025
Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) participated in the 74th East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) Health Ministers’ Conference in Malawi, advocating for increased domestic investment in NTD elimination.
During the conference, Dr. Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho, Board Chair of Uniting to Combat NTDs, met with Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, M.P., Minister of Health, Malawi, alongside other high-level attendees, including Sibusiso Bafana Sibandze, Acting Director General of ECSA-HC. These discussions reinforced the urgent need for African nations to prioritize sustainable financing for NTD programs through domestic resource mobilisation.
From left to right: Opeyemi Alain-Hundeyin, Uniting’s Africa Insight Analyst, Dr Winnie Mpanju-Shumbusho, Uniting to Combat NTD’s Board Chair, Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, M.P, the Minister of Health in Malawi and Ruth Rensburg, Uniting to Combat NTD’s Senior Resource Mobilisation Advisor
As part of its engagement, Uniting to Combat NTDs conveyed a clear message to ECSA Health Ministers: "We can eliminate NTDs in our lifetime. How? Unite, Act, Eliminate." This call to action highlights the importance of political commitment, cross-sector collaboration, and strategic financing to end NTDs.
The conference featured a dedicated plenary session on combating NTDs, where Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda delivered a keynote address. Uniting to Combat NTDs presented key insights on the economic and social benefits of NTD elimination, emphasizing that investment in NTD programs yields a 25:1 return on investment, strengthening health systems and reducing poverty.
Photo: Opeyemi Alain-Hundeyin, Uniting’s Africa Insight Analyst presented key insights on the economic and social benefits of NTD elimination.
African Union member states have committed to eliminating NTDs by 2030, yet an estimated $5.6 billion funding gap remains. Uniting to Combat NTDs stressed that domestic resource mobilisation is the key to bridging this gap. By allocating dedicated budget lines for NTDs, integrating NTD programs into national health strategies, and leveraging innovative financing mechanisms—such as health taxes and public-private partnerships—countries can ensure sustainable progress.
From left to right: Ruth Rensburg, Uniting to Combat NTD’s Senior Resource Mobilisation Advisor, Dr Shumbusho, Acting Director General of ECSA-HC, Sibusiso Bafana Sibandze and Opeyemi Alain-Hundeyin, Uniting’s Africa Insight Analyst.
Uniting to Combat NTDs continues to work with regional leaders and governments to push for greater investment in NTD programs. The outcomes of the 74th ECSA-HC Health Ministers’ Conference provide a renewed momentum for policymakers to integrate NTD funding into national health budgets, ensuring that progress toward elimination remains on track.
To learn more about how domestic resource mobilisation can drive NTD elimination, click here.
