Honourable Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health of Indonesia
His Excellency Former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Mr Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund
Dr Sarthak Das, CEO of the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA)
Distinguished representatives
Ladies and gentlemen
Selamat pagi, good morning.
It’s a true honour to join you today. On behalf of the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Region, I extend heartfelt thanks to APLMA and the Government of Indonesia for convening us here in Bali – at a pivotal moment in our shared fight against malaria.
The theme of this summit, “Unity in Action, Towards Zero Malaria,” is more than a slogan – it is a call to collective purpose. It reminds us that defeating the ancient scourge of malaria requires solidarity across borders, sectors and communities.
In 2023, the world saw over 260 million malaria cases, with more than 600,000 lives lost – three-quarters of them children under five.
In our own Western Pacific Region, over 800,000 cases were recorded. With Indonesia’s inclusion in the Western Pacific, that number rises to more than 1.2 million - most of them concentrated in Papua New Guinea and Tanah Papua Indonesia.
Malaria has long challenged our region. Yet, we have reason to hope. Countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion - Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam - have reduced malaria cases by over 90%. And China has achieved elimination.
These are not just statistics – they are stories of leadership, innovation and resilience.
Successes in the Greater Mekong have come through targeted interventions and strategies: reaching forest-goers, deploying mobile malaria workers, and fostering regional collaboration through the WHO Mekong Malaria Elimination Programme.
These efforts light the path forward for high-burden areas.
Indonesia’s progress is commendable - 78% of districts are now malaria-free. But challenges persist, especially in Papua Province, where ecological and social factors demand tailored, data driven responses.
WHO, as ever, stands ready to support. We are committed to:
- Supporting national malaria strategies – including the urgency in tackling artemisinin resistance in the Greater Mekong Subregion;
- Strengthening surveillance, case management and vector control;
- Facilitating shared learning and resource mobilization;
- And integrating malaria efforts into primary health care to reach those most in need.
We also proudly support APLMA’s EDEN initiative—an important platform to address malaria and other climate-sensitive diseases through regional cooperation and resilience.
But we cannot do this alone.
We urge all partners and donors to invest in elimination and protect the gains we’ve made. As the Global Fund transitions, domestic financing must rise, and innovative funding models must be embraced.
Colleagues, the Western Pacific Region is home to both the final frontiers of malaria and some of the most inspiring victories. Let us move forward together with courage, unity and resolve.
Let us ensure that zero malaria becomes not just a vision, but a lived reality for every community.
As Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” Let us be the generation that gets it done.
Terima kasih! Thank you.