Cynthia Mwase
Director of Health for Africa, Gates Foundation
Against all odds, a growing number of African countries are achieving what was once thought impossible — they are eliminating infectious diseases.
Recently, Niger and Guinea each eliminated a neglected tropical disease (NTD), while Cabo Verde and Egypt got rid of malaria. These are remarkable achievements made possible by a collective effort. Fuelled by African leadership and innovation, they hold great promise for the continent and the world.
Eliminating diseases builds resilient societies
Disease elimination can transform the fortunes of a society. When you remove the threat of a disease like malaria, communities are more productive; economies grow; and health systems become more resilient.
The human and economic potential is staggering. The Nigerian economy will add USD$19 billion (The End Fund, 2023) in increased productivity if it meets elimination targets for NTDs. Eliminating malaria in the highest-burden countries, including Nigeria, would increase per capita income by nearly 20% (World Health Organization, 2020). These benefits extend far beyond the continent. In our interconnected world, an investment in disease elimination in Africa is an investment in global security and economic stability.
The Nigerian economy will add USD$19
billion in increased productivity if it
meets elimination targets for NTDs.
Progress is fuelled by African-led innovation
African scientists are behind many of the innovations driving disease prevention and elimination, working in close partnership with international institutions from around the world, including from the UK. The recent rollout of malaria vaccines, developed through African- UK collaborations, offers countries more options to protect children from the disease.
In Burkina Faso, Uganda and other countries across the continent, scientists are codeveloping genetically modified mosquito approaches that could be used to eliminate malaria transmission.
Meanwhile, clinical trial sites in four African countries are enrolling thousands in a tuberculosis vaccine trial, sponsored by the Gates Medical Research Institute. Funded by the Gates Foundation and Wellcome, and initially developed by GSK, this could potentially be the first candidate vaccine to help protect adults and adolescents from tuberculosis in more than a century.
Reaching people through science and delivery
To fulfil the promise of these and other innovations, we must bridge the gap between science and delivery to ensure they reach the people who need them. Sustained investment in these innovations today will help countries end the threat of more diseases and stretch limited resources well into the future. They will keep all of us safer, more prosperous and resilient for decades to come.
