Goodbye Malaria
Text: Flow Public Relations. Article from the November 2013 DO IT NOW.
Despite being completely preventable and treatable, malaria infects approximately 219 million people around the world each year, killing and estimated 655,000. 90% of all malaria deaths occur in Africa, where the disease costs the continent an estimated minimum of US $12 billion each year in lost productivity alone.
Six African countries (including Mozambique) account for 47% of malaria cases globally, and 86% of those deaths were in children under 5 years of age – that’s one child every 60 seconds.
Despite tremendous advances in recent years, malaria continues to threaten broader socio-economic development of Africa continent and places a huge strain on health resources, communities and individuals across the continent. In an effort to create a sustainable path to development for the African continent, including greater engagement of a variety of African sectors to maximize investment in Africa by Africa, a group of African entrepreneurs have banded together to form Goodbye Malaria, which launches in Durban on October 10, alongside the 6th MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference.
Goodbye Malaria’s goals are:
- Support the elimination of malaria in Africa, starting in Mozambique with innovative financing through a social impact bond
- The eradication of poverty by supporting African entrepreneurs
- The improvement of local economies
- Supporting Malaria advocacy – The Global Fund and Rollback Malaria, in creating a fresh voice for the malaria community
The group, which includes Robert Brozin), Sherwin Charles, David Stern, is determined to eliminate malaria and supporting the goal of saving 4.2-million lives by 2015 on achievement of the MDG goals.
“We’re creating a win-win-win situation,” says Brozin, founder of Nando’s. “Providing African solutions to African challenges where Africa is doing it for herself.”
The campaign benefits the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM) and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by raising funds for malaria elimination in Africa, using a model that enables Africans to raise funds and advocate against malaria while simultaneously creating employment opportunities.
The group is calling for a show of unity from corporates and individuals on World Malaria Day, 25 April 2014, calling on the world to wear their “Goodbye Malaria pyjamas” to work. Says Sherwin Charles, CEO of Sonhos Social Capital, “This might sound like a big ask, but the pyjamas, made of the softest cotton and in funky shweshwe fabric, are probably the most stylish and comfortable thing you’ll wear all year.” These products marketed to corporates and individuals in Africa and the global community, using the slogan “Save a life in your sleep,” and 50% of the proceeds from the sale of the Goodbye Malaria range go to The Global Fund for investment in African malaria programs.
Already, important ambassadors have added their voices to the Goodbye Malaria call:
“We have made huge progress over the last 10 years because of The Global Fund and Roll Back Malaria. Now its time to do if for ourselves to sustain these gains,” says Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Rollback Malaria Partnership, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and UN Envoy for Africa, while Andrew Layman, CEO of the Durban Chamber of Commerce adds, “The Durban Chamber of Commerce & Industry is proud to be associated with this very important life saving project and commends Nando’s on this excellent initiative. We are delighted that the launch takes place in Durban and urge businesses to participate in eradicating Malaria in Africa, a disease that kills more children than HIV/AIDS in Africa.”
“Malaria statistics are absolutely appalling,” adds Brozin. “And everyone can make a difference and help us to fight malaria in their sleep – what could be easier?”