Tanzania launches anti-malaria campaign

Tanzania’s government has introduced a nationwide anti-malaria  awareness campaign titled “Malaria Haikubaliki: Tushirikiane Kuitokomeza” (Malaria is unacceptable: Working together, we can eliminate malaria).  As reported on September 25, 2010 in Tanzania’s This Day newspaper:

The country, arguably one of the leaders in the global fight against malaria, recently introduced an anti malaria campaign – Malaria Haikubaliki –  which involves all sectors of the society including entertainment, business, sport and religion sectors in the battle against malaria across the country.

In spearheading the campaign, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare joined hands with prominent Tanzanian musicians, international partners, senior government officials and  the business sector to stage the Zinduka! (“Wake Up!”) Concert scheduled to take place on February 13, this year at the Leaders’ Club in Dar es Salaam …

The objective of the effort is to increase practices to prevent malaria such as consistently sleeping under an insecticide treated mosquito net, detecting and treating malaria early; and ensuring antenatal care for pregnant women…

The national campaign is anchored at the community and household level by community mobilization activities implemented by Population Services International (PSI) and Johns Hopkins University and district advocacy activities led by Voices II.

At the same time, Tanzania Red Cross is conducting Hang Up and Keep Up campaigns across the country. From the faith community, Malaria Haikubaliki is joined by the Christian Social Services Commission and Bakwata (the National Muslim Council) to engage faith leaders and their congregations in the effort to combat malaria nationwide.

On September 23, 2009, Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete became the head of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) which was launched at the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The alliance is comprised of seventeen African Heads of State working to end malaria-related deaths. Angola is not a member of ALMA.