Inside #MIM2018: A night under the stars with Youssou Ndour to say thank you and celebrate the people working to #EndMalaria on day 4 of the conference

We are more than half way through a week of knowledge sharing and networking at the 7th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM). On Wednesday night, to show gratitude and celebrate the many stakeholders working daily to #EndMalaria, the MIM organizing committee hosted a special night gala dinner with a private concert from international favorite, and malaria champion, Youssou Ndour.

Here’s a look at the night, that included presentation of awards and certificates for conference organizers and performances from traditional dancers and musicians.

MIM2018 Organizing Committee President, Prof. Oumar Gaye, welcomes guests to the gala. Dr. Pedro Alonso, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, and other malaria champions enjoy the entertainment at the gala dinner. The Vestergaard team enjoys dinner and downtime after a long day in the MIM exhibition hall. Prof. Wilfred Mbacham, Associate Professor at the Biotechnology Center (BTC) of the University of Yaounde I in Cameroon at the gala dinner. Prof. Mbacham was one of many malaria champions that were honored with a certificate of appreciation at the gala. Nobel Prize winner and MIM speaker Prof. Harold Varmus accepts a certificate of appreciation from MIM2018 Organizing Committee President, Prof. Oumar Gaye. Prof. Ogobara Doumbo, Director of the Malaria Research and Training Center in Bamako, Mali, was one of many malaria champions honored during the gala. Prof. Gaye presents Prof. Rose Leke, Chair of the MIM Secretariat andEmeritus Professor of Immunology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde, Cameroon , with a certificate of appreciation. Malaria champion Youssou Ndour performed after the awards are presented. Youssou Ndour shares his certificate of recognition from the RBM Partnership to End Malaria. A long-time champion for the elimination of malaria, he gave gala attendees a private concert at the MIM.