Malaria threatens virtually all of Cote d’Ivoire’s 20 million people, making it one of the most endemic countries in Africa. The World Health Organization in Cote d’Ivoire estimated as many as 9.6 million cases in 2010 and as many as 28,400 deaths. Since 2008, when the organization began counting confirmed malaria cases, admissions and deaths, the number rose dramatically until 2010 and then fell, possibly because civil war disrupted health systems, preventing families from accessing treatment and health workers from collecting reliable data.
Blog post October 5, 2012
In the densely populated neighborhood of Abobo, in Cote d’Ivoire’s capital city, football superstar Yao Kouassi Gervais stood before a crowd, a pile of insecticide-treated bednets at his back. Holding up a plastic blue package, he urged the children of the Village SOS Orphanage to sleep under a net every night to protect themselves from malaria, a deadly disease that affects mostly young children and pregnant women. The orphanage is close to where he grew up, playing soccer as a young boy on their fields.
Blog post February 8, 2012
By David Kyne, United Against Malaria
During this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, the continent’s premier soccer championship, some of Africa’s most popular players are lending their voices to further the fight against this disease. Several of the continent’s stars will share life-saving malaria prevention and treatment messages through United Against Malaria soccer-themed television public service announcements (PSAs) that will air in malaria-endemic countries in Africa throughout the tournament.
Blog post February 2, 2012
Mr. Rene Yedieti, the CEO of the Librairie de France Groupe in Cote d’Ivoire, has been instrumental in recruiting public and private sector partners to the UAM campaign and to malaria control. For his efforts, he was awarded in November 2011 with the United Against Malaria Golden Boot.
Blog post January 16, 2012
In late 2011 United Against Malaria awarded "Golden Boots" to two private sector leaders in Cote d'Ivoire, Wim Van Helleputte, country director for MTN-Cote d'Ivoire, and Rene Yedieti, chief executive officer of Libraire de France, for their personal commitment and public leadership to the fight against malaria. Just as valuable football players earn "golden boots" on the pitch, the two men have contributed greatly to the successful gains of malaria control in their country, despite recent political turmoil and civil war.
