Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative supports global movement for malaria elimination in Africa
March 30, 2022 – Today, Ecobank Uganda confirms its commitment to ending malaria by launching the Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative (ZMBLI) in Uganda and joining the Malaria-Free Uganda board, announcing a contribution of $120,000 USD.
The aim of the Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative is to mobilise private sector companies in the fight against malaria in Africa in order to achieve a malaria-free continent within a generation. This initiative is part of the continent-wide Zero Malaria Starts with Me campaign, launched in 2018 by the 55 African Heads of States at the 31 st African Union Summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative supports the private sector engagement strategy of this pan-African campaign, and is currently being implemented in several countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ghana and Uganda, in partnership with Speak Up Africa and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria.
Welcoming the launch, Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria declared that: “We celebrate the launch of the Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative in Uganda as another giant step forward in the movement to end malaria. It is crucial that we increase malaria funding and expand the effort beyond the Ministry of Health and international donors, especially by harnessing the power of the private sector.”
Understanding the importance of building on existing efforts and supporting existing structures, in Uganda, Ecobank is implementing this initiative as part of Malaria-Free Uganda (MFU), the national structure authorised by the Ministry of Health with the responsibility for multisectoral mobilisation for the fight against malaria in Uganda.
Indeed, launching the Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative and joining MFU represents a convergence of aspirations between the partners and a strengthening of ongoing efforts. As Mr. Kenneth Mugisha, the MFU Board Chairman, remarked: “The MFU is honored to welcome Ecobank, under the leadership of Ms. Muliisa, to the MFU board. Ecobank is setting a strong example by not only contributing financially but also committing to work with us to mobilize others to join the cause.” The Ecobank Uganda Managing Director, Ms. Grace Muliisa, stated that: “As ‘The Pan-African Bank’, we are committed to finding home-grown solutions to urgent public health and development issues. We are honoured to join the distinguished Malaria-Free Uganda board. To show our commitment, we are pleased to announce a contribution of USD 120,000, […]
