Zero Malaria Starts with Me
ABOUT ZERO MALARIA STARTS WITH ME
FROM A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO
CONTINENT-WIDE FORCE
The Zero Malaria Starts with Me campaign originated in Senegal in 2014 as a nationwide citizen movement to increase awareness about malaria, make malaria elimination a political priority and ensure national commitment.
Since then, Zero Malaria Starts With Me has turned into a continent-wide force. Building off Senegal’s success, in July 2018 African Union Heads of States and Governments endorsed the campaign in support of the African Union goal to end malaria by 2030, expanding it from a nationwide campaign to a pan-African movement.
The campaign is based on three pillars: political engagement, private-sector engagement and community engagement. These pillars lay the foundation to keep malaria high on the political agenda, raise funds to support malaria work and activate everyone from heads of state to community members.
To date, 24 countries have launched the “Zero Malaria Starts with Me” campaign, with more on the cusp of joining.
The countries that have launched so far are:
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Mauritania
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
As part of the campaign, countries have established national End Malaria Funds and Councils and have engaged individuals, families, as well as political, religious and business leaders, to make a personal commitment to end malaria. Others have raised awareness of malaria prevention through youth leaders, journalists and artists.
WHO IS INVOLVED?
Zero Malaria Starts with Me is an all-inclusive campaign that anyone can join. While the National Malaria Control Programme leads malaria prevention and treatment efforts in most countries, anyone can be an advocate for change.
As part of the campaign, all individuals, families, communities and organizations are urged to make a personal commitment to step up the fight against the disease. Across Zero Malaria Starts with Me countries there is a diverse network of campaign champions including business and religious leaders, musicians, journalists, Parliamentarians, health workers, politicians, local and international nonprofits and individuals.
