President Duma Boko has called for strengthened political cooperation amongst Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries in order to accelerate malaria elimination.

Speaking during the High-Level Dialogue on Malaria Elimination in Gaborone recently, Boko called for sustainable financing and regional cooperation to foster an enabling environment for malaria elimination.

Highlighting the concerning resurgence of malaria incidents in the Southern African Development Community region, Boko emphasised the importance of prioritising surveillance, vector control and timely diagnosis and treatment.

Boko, who also serves as the chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), further called on governments and development partners to explore innovative financing mechanisms and strengthen domestic resource mobilisation.

"So partner funding does not supplant, remove and replace our own local, domestic resources and capabilities. We must deploy those alongside in addition to the external funding that we receive. Country ownership means shaping, designing and evaluating investments according to the specific needs of communities. This vision is consistent with the Accra Declaration and Africa's broader pursuit of health sovereignty."

Over the past two years, malaria case numbers have increased in the region, with the civil strife-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Angola and Tanzania reporting reversals in hard-earned gains.