The Malaria No More ambassador discusses the Zero Malaria Starts with Me campaign
Celebrity designer, stylist and activist Ugo Mozie is living proof of the potential of a world without malaria. Having survived the disease himself, the Nigerian style maven launched his fashion label at the age of 18. A decade on, Celine Dion and Beyoncé have worn his pieces and he has worked with everyone from Travis Scott to Justin Bieber. “I always keep my African culture at hand’s reach,” he has said, and when he’s not casting his magic at the Grammies, he’s supporting the upcoming generation of innovators and entrepreneurs across the continent to reach their potential with his non-profit foundation, We Are New Africa (WANA) – which has recently been providing cash grants to hungry families as part of its Covid-19 response.
As an ambassador for the charity Malaria No More, Nataal catches up with Mozie on the eve of World Malaria Day - 25 April 2020 - to discuss why this year’s campaign theme: ‘Zero Malaria Starts with Me’, is so dear to his heart.
Nataal: Why is it important to you personally to get behind this campaign?
Ugo: I’m very passionate about getting involved in the Zero Malaria Starts with Me campaign. It’s personal to me because I have survived malaria twice in my life. And I have lost people I know to the disease.
Nataal: How do you imagine the world would be different if malaria was eradicated?
Ugo: The world would be a totally different place if malaria didn’t exist. I was born in a small city of Enugu, about 10 hours from Lagos. I spend a lot of time working with youth not just there, but around Africa, and I find so much inspiration, passion, and drive in their eyes. I know each of these kids and young people has the ability to become great, but unfortunately a large proportion of dreams will be stolen due to malaria. I’ve personally seen it: malaria definitely affects the success rates of the communities that are affected.
Nataal: Here in the UK we’ve seen a huge groundswell of appreciation for our healthcare and key workers in their response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has really helped bind the nation together at what has been an intensely unsettling time. Can you tell me about some of the most positive responses you’ve seen in response to the global situation at the moment?
Ugo: It’s true. One thing that we’ve all found so uplifting is the outpouring of positive responses towards healthcare workers. They have been incredible and truly motivating.
A few of my friends have been doing things to raise awareness, money, and educate people about the pandemic. Diddy broke records when he held a danceathon with his family. And Nigerian dancehall artist Runtown partnered with my charity WANA to create grant packages for families affected by Covid-19 in Nigeria. Everyone that has used their social media and voice to spread awareness and facts also has been doing great and all have my support 100 per cent.
Nataal: I think the lesson here is that we need to ensure robust healthcare systems are in place for the frontline fight against all diseases. In the fight against malaria, we’ve saved two million lives and prevented a billion new cases in the last two decades, and we’re just a generation away from wiping the disease off the planet. Let’s imagine you’ve a Zoom meting with world leaders on World Malaria Day. What’s your message to them?
Ugo: My personal message would be that we are a movement by ourselves but a force when we’re together. Our strength as a world is in unity. The more aligned we can be with our vision to eradicate malaria, the closer we get to eliminating it forever.
Nataal: Thank you so much!
Take action on World Malaria Day 2020 with the Zero Malaria Starts with Me Africa resource kit and call on leaders to protect and strengthen our health systems.