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The proclamation has called upon the Ministry of Health and other Government Agencies, as well as International Organizations concerned to initiate and execute programs to mark the commemoration of the day
The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has, by proclamation, declared Friday, April 25, 2025, as “World Malaria Day,” and is to be observed throughout the Republic as a Working Holiday. According to a Foreign Ministry release, April 25, 2025 is the 18th World Malaria Day, which will be celebrated under the global theme: “Malaria Ends with Us: Reimagine, Reignite,” and the local slogan “Zero Malaria Starts with me.” The Government of Liberia, realizing the significance of protecting the wellbeing of its citizens and foreign residents, has ratified the Convention on the Right of the Child to good health and nutrition and, as a member of the World Health Organization (WHO), will join other global health partners in supporting all health programs aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with the guiding principle to Leave No One Behind. The proclamation has called upon the Ministry of Health and other Government Agencies, as well as International Organizations concerned to initiate and execute programs to mark the commemoration of the day.
The proclamation says the 2024 Malaria Report shows about 94% of the estimated 263 million malaria cases and 95% if the estimated 597,000 malaria-related deaths occurred in the WHO/AFRO Region, and with under-five years accounting for 76% of malaria-related deaths in the region. According to the Presidential proclamation, continued investments in Malaria prevention and control will propel malaria-endemic countries, which include Liberia, along the path to achieving the targets of the Global Malaria Technical Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to improving child survival and maternal health, eradicating extreme poverty, and expanding equitable access to quality health services, specifically for malaria prevention and prompt treatment. Cognizant of the harmful effects and burden malaria places on the human race, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the World over, a Resolution declaring April 25 of each year as Africa Malaria Day, amended as World Malaria Day was adopted by the Summit of African Head of States and Government held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1997, which called on all member states of the then Organization of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU), to initiate and implement Plans of Action and make appropriate investments to curtail malaria morbidity and mortality rates in Africa.
The 2024 World Malaria Report with the theme addressing inequality in the global malaria response has recognized Liberia effort in the fight against the malaria disease and has congratulated her for the reduction in the malaria burden in the country especially among the venerable population, the proclamation says. It further states that In Liberia, all-cause under-five mortality rate has declined from 94 per 1,000 live births in 2013 to 93 per 1,000 live births in 2019 and hospital admissions for severe malaria has declined from 8% in 2020 to 6% in 2024 and the Government annual expenditure on health has remained steady in the range of 10 to 14% over the past 10 years, in fulfilment of the Abuja Declaration that calls for members states to allocate 15% of national budget to health.
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Lusaka — African health ministers and partners are calling for increased investment in integrated health services to address the growing burden of severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly those affecting women and underserved populations across the region. At a high-level side event during the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, delegates emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to prevention, screening, treatment, and rehabilitation across the continuum of care for NCDs. Disparities are especially pronounced in rural areas, where health infrastructure and services remain inadequate. Breast and cervical cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa—particularly cervical cancer, which is both preventable and treatable. It remains the most common cause of cancer death for women in the region. In 2022, Africa accounted for nearly a quarter (23%) of the 76 000 global cervical cancer deaths. Meanwhile, severe NCDs such as Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and heart conditions claim more than half a million lives annually, including among children, adolescents, and young adults in some of the continent’s poorest communities. Inequitable access to health services continues to hinder efforts to reduce this burden. To improve cervical and breast cancer care in the region, urgent investment is needed in leadership, governance, and financing. Strengthening these foundations is critical in the current funding landscape. Advancements in strategic planning, healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, and—most importantly—equitable access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services are essential. To address these challenges, WHO and its partners showcased successful integrated models such as the Women’s Integrated Care for Cancer Services (WICS), the BEAT Breast Cancer Project, and the PEN-Plus Strategy. WICS strengthens early detection, treatment, and integration of women’s cancer services into primary health care systems in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The BEAT Breast Cancer Project is a transformative multi-year initiative aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality among women in Tanzania and Ghana through early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment access. “PEN-Plus, WICS and the BEAT Breast Cancer Initiative are models for a new standard of care, rooted in equity, access and health justice. I urge countries to prioritize policies that embed these models into broader health system strengthening, said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa”. Côte d’Ivoire offers a compelling example of progress, combining high HPV vaccination coverage—reaching over three million girls (91.4%)—with WICS-supported community-based screening campaigns to strengthen cervical cancer prevention. In Kenya, cervical cancer screening has been successfully integrated into national health services. “This gathering marks a pivotal moment to accelerate action for breast cancer prevention in Africa. We deeply value the leadership of the Ministries of Health of Ghana and Tanzania, and the steadfast support of the Pfizer Foundation in helping us achieve this milestone. The side event builds momentum for the policy prioritization of women’s cancers, partnerships to strengthen the broader women’s cancer ecosystem, and advance a health-systems approach to breast cancer prevention and management”, said Dr Somesh Kumar, Senior Director, Jhpiego. PEN-Plus expands access to care for severe NCDs at the district hospital level. Since its implementation, 20 countries in Africa have increased access to services for severe NCDs. Over 15 000 people are currently receiving treatment for chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease and Type 1 diabetes through PEN-Plus clinics.
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