Canal+ Senegal commits to Zero Malaria and donates 1,000 bed nets to Special Olympics Senegal

Malaria is an entirely preventable and treatable disease, yet it still results in a child dying every two minutes. To protect the most vulnerable from this disease, Special Olympics Senegal, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide year-round training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, relaunched its And Xeex Sibiru campaign in September 2021 and received 1,000 long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) courtesy of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and USAID/PMI. 

Today, to reinforce the protection of Special Olympics Senegal athletes, Canal+ Senegal is donating 1,000 mosquito nets to the organization and is organizing, in collaboration with the NMCP and Speak Up Africa, a non-profit advocacy and strategic communications organization, an inclusive football match to reinforce the awareness and protection of Senegalese communities. This inclusive match and mosquito net donation are part of the pan-African Zero Malaria Starts With Me movement which was launched in Senegal in 2014 and, since 2018, has been co-led by the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and the African Union Commission. 

« The contribution of the private sector to the control and elimination of malaria in Senegal is a priority for the National Malaria Control Program. We welcome and encourage Canal+ Senegal’s initiative because it is essential that everyone, from all sectors of society, contributes to achieve the objectives of malaria elimination in Senegal and on our continent. We reiterate our support for the And Xeex Sibiru initiative, which aims to protect one of the most vulnerable groups from malaria. »

Dr. Doudou Sene, Coordinator of the NMCP

The And Xeex Siribu initiative aims to raise awareness and build the capacity of Special Olympics Senegal coaches and athletes on how to prevent and treat malaria. Since 2017, as part of this initiative, Special Olympics Senegal has provided more than 2,500 bed nets to athletes and their families.

« We would like to thank Canal+ Senegal for this donation of mosquito nets and for their commitment to our athletes. Inclusion and health are themes dear to our organization and we are delighted with the support of Canal + Senegal in amplifying our messages and our actions. »

Rajah Sy, Director of Special Olympics Senegal

On April 25, 2021, on the occasion of World Malaria Day, Canal+ Group partnered with the RBM Partnership to End Malaria and Speak Up Africa to produce a 52-minute documentary on the challenges, successes, and efforts in the fight against malaria in Africa, entitled “Overcoming Malaria.” This documentary, broadcast as part of the « 1 month, 1 cause » initiative, marked the starting point of Canal+ Senegal’s commitment to the malaria fight. The broadcaster is now determined to work on a national scale to protect Senegalese populations against this scourge that led to 260 deaths in 2019 and affected at least 354,708 people.

« As a national economic operator, it is our duty to contribute to solving sustainable development challenges and to participate in improving the living conditions of our communities. Malaria is a burden on our society and we must all act to end this preventable and treatable disease. By working and communicating through our platforms, we are committed to playing our part and we are delighted to support the Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action. »

Sébastien Punturello, Managing Director of Canal+ Senegal

In Senegal, intensified malaria control efforts have resulted in a remarkable decline in the disease over the past 15 years. In 2019, the country experienced a significant decline in the number of malaria cases nationwide. However, many challenges remain that must be overcome in order to eliminate malaria in Senegal. It is therefore essential that all sectors of society are involved and take action so that the country can end this disease once and for all. This is especially important in the context of COVID-19 in which gains in the fight against malaria have been threatened. On the other hand, the NMCP is developing a malaria elimination plan to address the many challenges that stand in the way of achieving our common goals.

« Today, every death from malaria is preventable, which is why I am happy to bring my voice to Canal+ Senegal and the Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action so that we can protect the most vulnerable populations. Whether it is on social media or during meetings or events, sharing messages that can save lives is a priority for me. »

Fatou Jupiter Touré, Actress

While the fight to eliminate malaria must be a priority for all, Speak Up Africa works alongside the Ecobank Group in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon and Senegal as part of the Zero Malaria Businesses Leadership Initiative.

« I am delighted that Canal+ Senegal has pledged this donation of mosquito nets. This commitment symbolizes the importance of the private sector and the media in the fight to eliminate malaria. Without these two sectors, it will be difficult to eliminate one of the oldest and deadliest diseases that humanity has ever known. »

Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa