Youssou Ndour, Senegalese music superstar, has reiterated his determination to work towards the eradication
of malaria, no. 1 killer disease in Africa.
Mr Ndour who was speaking at a press conference last Monday in Dakar, at the launch of Phase II of the Xeex Sibbiru Campaign (Wollof for Fight against Malaria), stressed that the task requires an inclusive collaboration from all segments of society.
”Everyone has a role to play, and only then it can be done, against the target date of 2015, date set for achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),’’ said Youssou Ndour, who is one of the main actors in the campaign, conducted in collaboration with the National Program against Malaria (NMCP).
”I am a winner when I commit to something, and I go up to the end,” the Senegalese star said at the press conference.
In a rather optimistic tone, Youssou told the gathering that so much is currently being said about the disease which is said to be the most deadly among children in Africa, but that ‘‘we are winning the battle.’’
He however pointed out the fact that governments and artists can not do it alone.
‘‘We need a coalition that would go very quickly, taking shortcuts,” he said.
Ndour has been actively engaged in the battle against Malaria since 2005, through the ‘Africa Live’ project, and also as a member of the Board of ‘Malaria No More’.
Additionally, the Senegalese superstar is ambassador for both UNICEF and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (Roll Back Malaria).
Accordingly, as part of this Xeex Sibbiru campaign, a national singing competition has been earmarked, in partnership with the NMCP, Malaria No More and Senegal Surround Sound. It seeks to enable the key sectors of society to raise awareness about the disease. The winner of this contest will have the honor of recording a song on malaria alongside Youssou and Viviane Ndour, the latter being one of Senegal’s mega female superstars.
In addition, the lucky winner of the contest will have a free ticket to participate at the annual prestigious concert organised by Youssou in Bercy (France).
