By Foday Moriba Conteh
The Ministry of Health, through the National Malaria Control Programme, in collaboration with partners and Health Ministers from member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on Saturday, 25th April 2026, concluded a Health Walk in Freetown to commemorate World Malaria Day 2026 under the theme: “Every Child Protected, Every Pregnant & Lactating Woman Safe.”
The event formed part of activities marking the 300 Days of Activism for Zero Malaria and coincided with the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers of ECOWAS, hosted in Freetown by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO).
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Hinga Demby, led the health walk, reaffirming the country’s commitment to eliminating malaria and strengthening regional cooperation to tackle the disease.
“We are on a journey to eliminate malaria,” Dr. Austin Demby told participants, emphasizing that the walk symbolized more than a public event but a unified commitment to ending malaria as a public health threat.
The walk attracted Health Ministers from across ECOWAS member states, alongside the Director-General of the West African Health Organization, Dr. Melchior Athanase J.C. Aïssi, public health experts, development partners and community stakeholders. The activity demonstrated regional solidarity and political commitment to addressing malaria, which remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in many West African countries.
According to Dr. Austin Demby, the initiative aimed to raise public awareness, mobilize communities and reinforce collaboration among countries facing similar health challenges. He stressed the importance of coordinated action in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, alongside sustained investments in surveillance systems and community-level interventions.
He further noted that eliminating malaria requires cross-border cooperation, improved data sharing and harmonized policies among ECOWAS countries. He added that regional platforms such as ECOWAS and WAHO play a critical role in aligning technical expertise and resources needed to meet elimination targets.
Dr. Austin Demby also highlighted that World Malaria Day 2026 serves as a reminder to accelerate progress and adopt innovative approaches to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children and pregnant women.
Director-General of the West African Health Organization, Dr. Melchior Athanase J.C. Aïssi, cautioned that despite significant gains made through interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets, chemoprevention, rapid diagnostic testing and artemisinin-based treatments, progress against malaria remains fragile.
“We face complex social, economic and security challenges that weaken our health systems and borders,” he said. “Strengthening regional cooperation, managing population mobility, and sharing real-time data are critical, especially in border areas.”
Dr. Aïssi called for accelerated implementation of regional disease control strategies and urged the ECOWAS steering committee to intensify its efforts toward malaria elimination. He also commended Sierra Leone’s vaccination campaigns, describing them as a model worth replicating across the region.
The participation of multiple Health Ministers and senior health officials underscored growing momentum for a unified West African response to malaria control. Health experts at the event pointed to progress made in the distribution of insecticide-treated nets, improved case management, and expanded vaccine rollout across the region.
However, they warned that sustained funding, community engagement and continued political commitment are essential to prevent setbacks in malaria control efforts.
The event concluded with a renewed call on governments, development partners and citizens to maintain momentum and intensify efforts to ensure malaria is eliminated as a major public health threat across Sierra Leone and the wider West African region.
