UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 -- The African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) has made significant progress in a very difficult world environment, and endeavored to garner support to replenish the Global Fund, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, president of Guinea-Bissau, told the General Debate of the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

"We worked with the private sector to promote the production of drugs and nets to combat malaria," said Embaló, also serving as ALMA President. "We encouraged the transfer of technologies to African companies. We launched End Malaria Councils and Funds and supported youth movements against malaria."

Despite all the progress achieved, challenges persist. In the next three years, ALMA will run a deficit of 1.5 billion U.S. dollar, according to the president.

"Global warming and rains associated with climate change are expanding the geographic reach of mosquitos, thus exposing more than 170 million people to the threat of malaria in the African continent," he noted.

"We must reform the international financial architecture in order to promote greater inclusion, particularly in Africa, and to consider the African continent's role and contribution to the world economy," he added.

  - Xinhua