The Government of Cameroon and the Global Fund today reaffirmed their partnership, signing a new malaria grant agreement worth €77 million.

The grant will fund distribution of 15.8 million mosquito nets, including a mass distribution campaign that will strive to achieve universal coverage in Cameroon. The grant also aims to reach approximately 1.6 million pregnant women through preventive malaria treatment.

The financial resources provided through the Global Fund come from many donors represented at today's signing ceremony by France, the United States, Canada, Germany and the European Union, and the grant agreement embodies a partnership with Cameroon's Ministry of Public Health.

The malaria grant is the first to be signed with Cameroon under the new approach to funding. The full implementation of this funding model began in 2014, with numerous consultations with civil society groups, health specialists, partners, government and people affected by the disease.

During the signing ceremony Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development spoke of his government's efforts to work with international development partners to fight HIV, TB and Malaria. "We thank the Global Fund for its constant support, which complements the government's own efforts," he said.

"In this regard, I would like to reassure you that the government of Cameroon has made a specific budgetary provision and will meet its counterpart financing commitments."

Christine Robichon, the Ambassador of France in Cameroon, praised the partnership responding to malaria in the country. "I would like to commend all partners involved in the fight against malaria, specifically the Ministry of Health and its departments, the National Malaria Program, and all community-based organizations working to guarantee the effective use of mosquito nets," she said. "I also applaud the commitment of our bilateral partners, including France, who work together with Cameroon to combat malaria - a leading cause of death in Africa and the world."

Almost half of deaths among children under 5 was caused by Malaria in 2013. The new grant aims to implement an integrated system of managing childhood illness and to introduce preventive therapy for children as a new additional intervention.

Andre Mama Fouda, Minister of Public Health in Cameroon, said that thanks to the partnership, Cameroon will for the first time achieve universal coverage of mosquito nets. "The forthcoming campaign to achieve universal coverage in June 2015 will be 77 percent financed by the Global Fund with 23 percent of funding coming from the Government of Cameroon, he said. "This once more shows Cameroon's commitment to mobilizing its domestic resources to fight malaria."

Cynthia Mwase, Head of the Africa and Middle East Department at the Global Fund, said "the new grant underscores Global Fund's commitment to work with the government of Cameroon in the fight against malaria. In terms of impact, we hope that over the next three years we will see a turning of the tide against malaria," she said.

From 2008 to 2013, sickness related to malaria decreased among pregnant women, children under five and the general population. These reductions are mainly a result of all malaria control initiatives held in country and funded fully or partially by the Global Fund partnership.

The partners' constructive and continuous involvement in the fight against malaria has always been very important for the Global Fund programs in the country. Key partners which provide technical assistance and funding include UN partner agencies (UNICEF and WHO), the US Government (MSH), the French Cooperation, CHAI, Plan, PSI and Malaria No More.