Nigerian Grammy Award winners, Yemi Alade, and Meji Alabi, have joined a stellar cast of international change-makers to turn up the pressure in the fight against malaria, launching the second chapter of the multi-award-winning ‘Draw the Line Against Malaria’ campaign.
Backed by the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, the second phase of ‘Draw the Line Against Malaria’ is fronted by a stellar cast of young people, activists, scientists, and stars from ‘Malaria No More’ UK Leadership Council founding member, David Beckham, and FC Barcelona striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, to marathon world record-holder, Eliud Kipchoge, and Afropop singer, Yemi Alade.
According to reports, the next chapter of the malaria campaign aims to turn up the pressure on world leaders to commit to ending malaria at the Kigali Summit and investing funds totaling $18 billion at the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment in New York this Autumn.
Accounting for over half of global funding to end malaria, a fully replenished Global Fund is projected to enable countries and partners to reduce malaria deaths by 62 percent, treat 550 million malaria cases, and eliminate malaria from six more countries by 2026, as well as unlock the potential of a Zero Malaria world, helping to strengthen equitable health systems and improve the lives and futures of millions of people.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General speaking ahead of the campaign said: “The World Health Organization welcomes a new host of scientists, youth, and champions to join the malaria fight at a crucial time when progress against the disease is lagging. Draw The Line provides a platform for Africa’s most powerful narrators to change this trajectory, disrupt political apathy, and lead the fight to end this treatable and preventable disease which kills a child nearly every minute”.
Singer and Zero Malaria Ambassador, Yemi Alade while speaking on her involvement with the campaign, shared her personal experience with the disease and the effects it has on victims.
“Growing up in Nigeria I have known malaria forever and experienced the disease countless times, so I understand how this disease robs so many children of their ability to go to schools and why malaria is a major cause of school absenteeism. I believe all children should have equal opportunities to realize their full potential and that’s why I’m here because we can end one of the deadliest preventable diseases of all time”.
Yemi Alade
The campaign film, directed by Ridley Scott’s protégé, and Grammy award winner, Meji Alabi, also commented on joining the campaign. According to him, he loves the energy and approach of the campaign harnessing the power of African-inspired art, music, sport, fashion, and culture to drive positive change and build on the bold truth that they can end malaria.
“It can’t come soon enough – I was very ill in hospital last year with malaria, it was debilitating. In this day and age, no one should have to suffer from this preventable disease,” Meji Alabi said.
Zero Malaria Ambassador and Art Director for the campaign, Láolú Senbanjo also expressed his enthusiasm of creating the Muundo visual language during the first phase of the campaign and steering the creative direction in the second phase.
“I’m honored to have my art at the heart of this campaign expressing our opportunity for zero malaria. Growing up in Nigeria means I know malaria well – it’s a part of everyday life. It is heartbreaking that today that Nigeria remains one of the worst affected countries with over 25 percent of all malaria cases and deaths – so this is a very personal battle for me”.
Láolú Senbanjo
Read also: There Seem To Be Frustration On Government’s Part- Political Analyst
