Geneva, May 20, 2026 (SUNA) – The Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, met with representatives of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership to End Malaria, a global initiative coordinating efforts to combat malaria, to discuss support for Sudan’s malaria control efforts on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly. During the meeting, the minister reviewed the malaria burden in Sudan, noting that the disease remains one of the leading public health and humanitarian challenges, particularly affecting children and mothers, despite ongoing national and partner interventions to reduce infection and mortality rates. He highlighted Sudan’s recent launch of the “Towards a Malaria-Free Sudan” initiative, supported by the Prime Minister, describing it as a national framework to mobilize government efforts, community engagement, and technical and financial partnerships to combat the disease. The minister outlined ongoing interventions, including the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, vector control campaigns, health outreach programmes, the introduction of a malaria vaccine, and indoor residual spraying (IRS), using long-lasting insecticides. He noted that around 15 million mosquito nets have been distributed, including in hard-to-reach areas. He also referred to an agreement with the Gezira Scheme to support vector control activities, particularly spraying operations, as part of efforts to strengthen multisectoral collaboration involving agriculture and other relevant sectors. Prof. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim stressed that malaria control requires an integrated scientific approach based on priorities, data-driven resource allocation, and coordination between health, agriculture, finance, education, and local governance sectors. For its part, the RBM Partnership praised Sudan’s political commitment to malaria control despite complex humanitarian and operational challenges, reaffirming its readiness to continue providing technical support, advocacy, and resource mobilization. The partnership said it is working with Sudan’s National Malaria Control Programme, including support for the midterm review of the strategy, preparation of Sudan’s funding application under the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment cycle (GC8), and assessment of commodity needs for malaria control. The meeting also discussed the importance of supporting Sudan in conducting a malaria indicator survey, noting that the last such survey was carried out in 2016, as well as strengthening vector surveillance and monitoring the effectiveness of rapid diagnostic tests amid technical challenges linked to gene deletions affecting diagnosis.It further addressed the need to enhance international advocacy for Sudan and mobilize additional funding from partners and donors, including exploring innovative financing mechanisms and linking malaria control to primary healthcare priorities and universal health coverage.The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue coordination between the Ministry of Health and the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership to End Malaria, and to provide technical and resource mobilization support to Sudan. This aims to advance the Prime Minister’s “Towards a Malaria-Free Sudan” initiative, reduce the disease burden and mortality, and support the recovery of the national health system.BH/BH