On World Malaria Day, JHU∙CCP’s Voices for a Malaria-Free Future [1] celebrates the success of United Against Malaria (UAM), a diverse team of partners harnessing momentum to end malaria deaths worldwide.
We honor champions like Yvonne Chaka Chaka, South African superstar and Roll Back Malaria Goodwill Ambassador, who performed her malaria anthem "Hearts on Fire" during the UAM celebration at the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations closing ceremony. This song is now available for purchase, with proceeds funding malaria control initiatives in Africa. Download the song [2] today to support UAM and the Princess of Africa Foundation.
Indeed, the campaign leveraged the Africa Cup of Nations—the continent’s premier football tournament—to mobilize political and popular support for malaria control in Africa in numerous ways. Watch the exciting closing ceremony, televised to 700 million viewers, on the Voices website at www.malariafreefuture.org/afcon2013 [1].
For Voices and our partners, football remains a fun and effective platform for malaria advocacy. Our newest public service announcements feature such popular players as Didier Drogba [1] of Cote d’Ivoire, Samuel Eto’o [1] of Cameroon, Joseph Yobo [1] of Nigeria, Chris Katongo [1] of Zambia and others [1]. Watch them on our website.
Teams and football federations have joined too. When the Confederation of African Football—the sport’s governing body in Africa—named UAM as one of its official social causes, the door opened to millions of fans in sub-Saharan Africa, where most malaria deaths occur. To reach them, Voices shared prevention and treatment messages via more than 1,000 public service announcements, more than 100 billboards [1], and more than 150,000 copies of GOAL! [1]—UAM’s 8-page signature publication featuring football-themed malaria messages.
In Ghana [1], South Africa [1], Tanzania [1], Uganda [1] and elsewhere [1], powerful private and public sector leaders are also joining the fight. For example, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda [1] of Tanzania and Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi of South Africa have worked with Voices to engage companies and governments; during the Africa Cup of Nations they called on constituents to shrink the malaria map [1]. Likewise, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf [1] of Liberia appeared on UAM billboards and in public service announcements; she also chairs the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, urging 44 Heads of State and Government to leverage every resource to meet critical health goals.
To date, 91 companies have endorsed Malaria Safe [1], a UAM private sector initiative developed by Voices, which can be downloaded in English, French and Portuguese on our website. See what these partners are doing by visiting our interactive partner map [1].
This World Malaria Day, we congratulate and thank our partners, and we urge leaders everywhere to invest in the future. Together, we can defeat malaria.
