Youssou N'Dour Fights Malaria

The statistics are grim: Malaria kills 3,000 people every day, 90 percent of them in Africa; one African child under the age of 5 dies every 30 seconds from malaria. But this is also a preventable disease, and the United States group Malaria No More — which uses the power of marketing and communications foremost among its tactics — has enlisted Youssou N'Dour, probably Africa’s most famous singer. Indeed, one publication has labeled him “Africa Artist of the 20th Century.”

The Senegal-born musician and board member of Malaria No More is the voice of a two-year campaign sponsored by the Senegalese government and Malaria No More called “Surround Sound: Senegal.” Their aim? Distribute two million mosquito nets to children and “bring insecticide-treated net usage up to 85%; provide correct treatment within 24 hours for 95% of malaria cases; and ensure that at least 85% of expectant mothers receive the recommended two doses of preventative treatment during pregnancy."

Last month, N’Dour kicked off the campaign with a stadium concert in Dakar, capital of Senegal. He also released a single in late June called “Fight Malaria.”  Sung in three Senagalese languages, the song has been distributed to radio stations and 1,300 “health huts” in the country. In one Dakar neighborhood, health workers recently drove around with the song booming from loud speakers. Martin Edland, Senegal Project Director for Malaria No More, told Voice of America the main message in the song is “no more excuses.” Says Edland: “Youssou is saying [in the song] we all know this problem [malaria], we all know what causes it and we all know how to prevent it, so there are no more excuses it is time to take care of it as a society."

Photo courtesy of Malaria No More.