Today, a new campaign backed by a coalition of global organisations and celebrities, is calling upon leaders to prioritise the fight against malaria, or risk undoing decades of unprecedented progress. The Beckham-backed campaign, Malaria Must Die, So Millions Can Live, launches with a film made by Ridley Scott Associates (RSA), showing David inside a glass box increasingly engulfed by a giant swarm of mosquitoes. Based on a creative by R/GA London and Director Baillie Walsh, while David is protected behind a layer of glass, the growing sound of the insects is a symbol of the looming threat of malaria. David has supported the malaria fight for over 15 years through his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Malaria No More UK Leadership Council member.
Despite significant strides in the fight against malaria which has saved 7 million lives since 2000, the latest World Malaria Report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows progress has now stalled. Malaria tragically claims 445,000 lives a year and over half of these deaths occur in Commonwealth countries. Each death is needless as malaria is totally preventable and costs less than a cup of tea to treat. The new campaign highlights the need for a renewed global effort to regain momentum to conquer this preventable killer disease.
The campaign is supported by XIX Entertainment founder Simon Fuller, Beckham’s long-time business partner and global malaria campaigner. Fuller is a Founding Partner of Malaria No More UK and has led the fight to end the disease as a result of his childhood experiences growing up in Ghana.
The film launches ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, April 2018 and calls for leaders to put malaria firmly on the agenda and agree to bold political action to end malaria for good.
For more information about the about the Malaria Must Die – So Millions Can Live campaign, visit www.malariamustdie.com#MalariaMustDie @malariamustdie
Edelman is overseeing attempts to encourage policymakers to commit to taking action against malaria, while inspiring greater consumer awareness through the global media roll-out of the Beckham film.