Norwegian Foreign Minister hosts launch of partnership to provide affordable medicines for malaria

On 17 April, Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre, hosted the launch of an international partnership that will provide cheaper and more effective malaria medicines to developing countries. 

The USD 355 million initiative is a partnership between Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the international drug purchase facility UNITAID, and the Roll Back Malaria partnership. 

The heads of these organisations pointed out that 881 000 people die of malaria every year, that 91% of these deaths are in Africa, and that 85% are children under five. In Africa alone, the costs relating to malaria amount to up to USD 12 billion a year. The fight against malaria is important not only for reducing child mortality, but also for increasing economic development.

Mr Støre highlighted that reducing maternal and child mortality is an important priority for the Government. He explained that the malaria partnership has three key elements: effective medicines, effective cooperation and effective financing.
Norway is providing funding through the Global Fund and UNITAID. Norway’s contribution will amount to 1.5% (NOK 375 million) of the Global Fund’s budget and 6.4% (NOK 140 million) of UNITAID’s budget.

For more information about the malaria initiative see The Global Fund.