Malaria, you can’t stop us! On 23 June, leaders came together to support the fight against malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Kigali Summit.

Governments, the private sector, and philanthropists have all pledged to help to accelerate the global fight to beat these deadly diseases with commitments totalling more than $4 billion. 

These game-changing decisions come on the back of our rallying call from young people around the world, demanding urgent action from leaders to end malaria within a generation. As part of The Zero Malaria Starts With Me – Draw The Line Against Malaria campaign, thousands of young people signed the crowdsourced petition – The Munndo.  

At the Kigali Summit, the Muundo was delivered to leaders by young people to demand investment and action with the support of malaria activists, scientists, health workers and changemakers that included David Beckham, Yemi Alade, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon.  

By uniting behind the Zero Malaria campaign, they delivered a message to end the indifference and turn up the pressure to beat the disease that is stealing our futures.

These $4 billion commitments come at a time when malaria is on the rise again, despite more than two decades of progress. The Summit, hosted by the Rwandan Government, saw powerful speeches from His Excellency President Kagame, HRH Prince of Wales, Melinda French Gates, and World Health Organisation’s Director General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus. 

This show of global collaboration in the fight to beat malaria is an important milestone ahead of the Global Fund Replenishment in New York this September. The Global Fund supports more than half of all malaria programmes worldwide, so it’s essential to getting the fight back on track.

The Kigali Summit commitments will recharge the momentum to help secure the $18 billion needed from world leaders to replenish the Fund – so we can be the generation to end malaria.