Voices for a Malaria-Free Future Mali

For the advocacy campaign, Voices for a Malaria-Free Future conducted various communication activities targeting decision makers. This involved a series of televised spots featuring Malian musicians asking national and district leaders as well as heads of households to do their best to protect citizens and families from malaria. Specifically, they asked that pregnant women get insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and treatment for free, that children get nets and new treatment, that nets be distributed all over Mali, and that children get treated quickly. These videos and television messages can be downloaded from the Voices for a Malaria Free Future website.

Support to the integrated campaign (for measles and polio vaccination, vitamin A administration, and the distribution of albendazole and insecticide-treated mosquito nets) also involved the use of music. Musicians from Mali were brought together to produce and sing two songs to support the social mobilisation efforts and net use promotion which accompanied the campaign. Twelve Malian musicians from different regions of the country produced one of the songs which encouraged parents to protect their children and pregnant women against malaria by having them sleep under the ITNs that were distributed as part of the government's integrated campaign. Covering 6 of the main languages spoken in Mali, the artists sang of their commitment to fighting malaria, urging parents to use their ITNs, and urging the government to continue its fight against the disease. The second song, Keneya Sugu "Health Fair", was sung by Mah Kouyate, and described the importance of bringing children under five in for the campaign's five interventions, and was broadcast on radio and television before and during the campaign. Click here to listen to the songs.

In addition, Voices also trained local journalists, organised a press conference, co-organised an information point for international visitors and a reception for the Ministry of Health. They also accompanied visitors and journalists to the field to see the integrated campaign in action. Voices also played a key role in facilitating partner collaboration and coordination throughout the end stages of the planning process by hosting weekly meetings.

Health, Malaria, Children

More than 800,000 cases of malaria were reported in Mali in 2005. Malaria is responsible for 30% of outpatient clinical visits, 30% of hospital deaths, and 17% of childhood deaths.

According to the organisers, post-campaign surveys showed that 80% of households with children under five now have a long lasting insecticide treated net. Voices is also conducting similar work in Ghana, Mozambique, and Kenya. Campaigns in those countries include television and radio spots, fact sheets, newsletters, and the development of educational programmes.