In Benin, a new generation of voices joins the fight for a malaria-free future

COTONOU, BENIN – July 31, 2026 – Five content creators from Benin are joining forces with the Ministry of Health’s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and Speak Up Africa to help eliminate malaria in the country. Gathering in Cotonou for a strategic workshop, they have joined the Zero Malaria Benin Content Creator Champions Network, an initiative designed to strengthen communication and awareness, promote healthy behaviors, combat misinformation, and advocate for sustainable funding to eliminate malaria. This mobilization comes as Benin continues its efforts to reduce the burden of malaria and accelerate progress toward its elimination by 2030.

Turning every voice into a driver of better health

Malaria remains a public health priority in Benin. Children under five and pregnant women are among the populations most vulnerable to the effects of malaria. Each year, the country records approximately two million cases and two thousand deaths. At the same time, the evolving health landscape, including insecticide resistance among vectors, the effects of climate change, and challenges in mobilizing funding, calls for stronger prevention and mobilization strategies. However, the fight against malaria relies on more than just medical interventions; it also requires the engagement of communities, young people, opinion leaders, the media, and all stakeholders capable of sharing reliable information and encouraging action. In this context, digital platforms serve as a strategic tool. With millions of people connected to social media platforms, content creators can help bring public health messages closer to communities, using formats that are accessible and tailored to information consumption habits, with the ultimate goal of transforming digital reach into concrete health-related engagement.

From training to action: building momentum since April

Since April 2026, marking World Malaria Day, the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), with the support of Speak Up Africa, has been progressively developing an initiative to turn digital influence into a genuine public health tool. This process began with training on storytelling regarding public health and malaria, organized with the help of national and international experts. The goal was to equip content creators with the knowledge and tools needed to better communicate the issues surrounding malaria, make information more accessible, and reach new communities. The initiative continued with field visits to Toviklin and Klouékanmè, allowing content creators to gain a better understanding of the realities faced by women, children, and communities in the fight against malaria. This experience helped align content creation with local realities and fostered narratives rooted in the communities’ own experiences.

This momentum continued with the “Zero Malaria FC” campaign, which opened up a new avenue for mobilization: the worlds of sport, popular culture, and content creation. During a match bringing together young men from the ALMA (African Leaders Malaria Alliance) Youth Corps and women from partner organizations implementing the *Voix EssentiELLES* (Essential Voices) program in Benin, several prominent content creators rallied around the cause of fighting malaria. Among them, Louis Rodolphe Kakè, known as Ahootô Autorité, an actor and socially conscious comedian, was officially named a Zero Malaria FC supporter. Fridaousse Iffabi, a cultural entrepreneur, content creator, and founding president of UNICC Benin, also helped promote the campaign within his communities. This series of initiatives made it possible to test, refine, and strengthen an approach based on engaging content creators to act as trusted voices within their communities.

However, the goal was to go beyond one-off campaigns.

To ensure this mobilization had a lasting impact, the NMCP (National Malaria Control Program), with strategic and financial support from Speak Up Africa, facilitated the establishment of the Zero Malaria Benin Content Creator Champions Network in Benin.

From one-off mobilization to a network of champions

The launch of this network marks a new phase in this process. It is no longer just about mobilizing creators for a single campaign, but about structuring a community of committed individuals capable of contributing to malaria prevention, combating misinformation, and advocating for sustainable health financing over the long term. The network’s first cohort brings together five content creators:

•                Louis Rodolphe Kakè, known as Ahootô Autorité, an actor and socially conscious comedian;

 •               Fridaousse Iffabi, cultural entrepreneur, content creator, and Founding President of UNICC Benin;

•                Elias Satowakou, known as “Gros Griot,” comedian and digital entertainment personality;

•                Emmanuila Padonou, content creator focused on societal and educational issues;

•                Nabirath Imorou, content creator and digital influencer.

Turning influence into action

During the workshop, the Zero Malaria Champions deepened their understanding of the malaria epidemiological situation in Benin and the key interventions implemented by the country to prevent, diagnose, and treat the disease. The goal was to equip them to better understand the issues, effectively communicate the reality of malaria, and mobilize their communities. After all, to drive behavioral change, information must be reliable, accessible, and closely aligned with daily realities to inspire action. The workshop thus marked the transition from awareness-raising to active engagement, yielding two major outcomes.

• The five content creators signed the Zero Malaria Champions Commitment Pact, affirming their resolve to use their voices, creativity, and influence to support malaria prevention and elimination efforts.
• They also developed a collaborative digital action plan for the August–October 2026 period, which includes producing and disseminating at least ten pieces of content, in various formats such as videos, short clips, and infographics, focused on malaria prevention and domestic financing.

This content will cover topics including: the effective use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs); the use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy (IPTp); Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC); malaria vaccination; community case management; and private sector engagement in raising awareness, prevention, and workplace malaria management, as well as contributions to the Zero Malaria Fund.

Together, these five creators form the first cohort of the Zero Malaria Benin Content Creator Champions Network in Benin. Their mission goes beyond simply broadcasting messages: they are called upon to spark new conversations about malaria, combat misinformation, encourage health-promoting behaviors, and advocate for sustainable funding to eliminate malaria. The goal is simple: to turn the digital space into a place where reliable information leads to a decision, a decision leads to a behavior, and a behavior becomes a genuine driver of public health.

“Our role is to find new ways to get the message across.”

For Emmanuila, the challenge lies precisely in moving beyond traditional formats to reach audiences in new ways: “I’m going to try to find unique and slightly different ways to convey the messages, so that we can raise awareness among as many people as possible.”  Emmanuila Padonou

This approach illustrates one of the initiative’s key objectives: enabling content creators to take ownership of public health issues while retaining their own voices, creativity, and close connections with their communities.

“Every creator can become a trusted voice.” For Speak Up Africa, this mobilization marks a new step in supporting national efforts to eliminate malaria.

“At Speak Up Africa, we support our national partners in achieving their public health goals. Together with the NMCP, we aim to leverage the vital role played by content creators to amplify communication, raise awareness, and drive social mobilization in support of sustainable health financing and the elimination of malaria by 2030.”  Franz Okey, Regional Advocacy Advisor, Speak Up Africa

“A message is only valuable if it leads to action.” For the NMCP, the power of digital content must primarily help foster the adoption of protective measures and interventions.

Dr. Codjo calls on communities to turn information into protective behaviors: “My appeal to the community and the public is simple: once these messages are created and disseminated, it is essential that everyone takes them on board and follows the recommendations they contain. The current season creates favorable conditions for the breeding of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes.”  Dr. Codjo Dandonougbo, National Coordinator, NMCP

Every voice counts

Eliminating malaria is a collective effort: in Benin, the five founding members of Zero Malaria Benin Content Creator Champions Network are lending their voices and influence to a national ambition, a malaria-free future by 2030.