Mbabane: Young people in Eswatini have been encouraged to join hands with government in the fight against Malaria.
This was during End Malaria Fund-organised Youth and Arts Indaba on the Elimination of Malaria at the Mbabane Theatre Club on Wednesday.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka who is the Ambassador for end Malaria said, Malaria is a disease without borders. She stated that, while the fight against COVID-19 continues, we should not forget malaria.
She encouraged young people to join hands with government in fighting Malaria. “It is your time as young people to be part of this. So let’s do it. This war we must win,” She said.
Chaka Chaka was echoed by the Minister of Sports, Culture, and Youth Affairs Harries Bulunga who called on Eswatini’s youth and artists to join hands with Government and partners in the fight to eliminate malaria.
The Indaba’s main aim was to develop youth and arts-driven solutions from ommunity level upwards towards achieving Eswatini’s target of malaria elimination by 2022.
Bulunga highlighted that the Indaba creates a platform from which government can engage with the youth and key stakeholders to end Malaria. He said no sustenance can be achieved without bringing the youth to the centre of every discussion.
Bulunga added that End Malaria is an initiative by His Majesty King Mswati III through his visionary leadership to achieve a malaria-free Eswatini.
“It was His Majesty who established and launched the Eswatini Malaria Elimination Fund back in May 2019. His Majesty’s sterling leadership on health has been felt across multiple issues over and above malaria, including but not limited to HIV & AIDS and COVID-19. His Majesty’s deep commitment to the health and general wellbeing of emaSwati is unparalleled and we remain optimistic that, through his wise counsel, we will achieve the target of zero malaria”.
Zero Malaria Starts with Me was launched in Eswatini in May 2019. Led by His Majesty King Mswati III, and the National Malaria Programme (NMP), the initiative was aimed at mobilizing sustainable resources for malaria elimination in the Kingdom of Eswatini, the SADC region, and the entire African continent. During its launch funds amounting to E7, 5 million were raised to support the National Malaria Programme.
Since its launch the country has achieved commendable progress in driving action and accountability from senior government, private sector, and civil society leaders, as well as increased funding and engagement from local communities to take ownership over the fight the end malaria.
Bulunga noted that in 2020 Eswatini was one of 20 countries globally identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having the potential to eliminate malaria by 2025. He highlighted that has set a target of eliminating malaria by 2023 and as big as this target is, it is possible.
Discussion about this post