Tanzania NightWatch

A Nightly Mosquito Net Reminder Campaign

In the last 3 years, the Tanzanian government has distributed more than 26.4 million free mosquito nets, and malaria interventions such as rapid diagnostic tests and ACT treatments are being massively scaled up. With these life-saving tools now in the field, the country is making incredible strides towards improving the health of all 44 million Tanzanians, and Tanzania has reduced malaria cases and deaths by more than 50%. But in order to defeat malaria once and for all, each individual must play an active role in protecting themselves and their family from this preventable disease.

That is why in April, 2012, the NightWatch platform launched in Tanzania. NightWatch Tanzania is complementing the signature sound and trusted spokespeople of Zinduka! Malaria Haibukaliki (“Wake up! Malaria is unacceptable”), the national anti-malaria campaign. To date, over a dozen Tanzanian artists and existing Zinduka! Goodwill Ambassadors have signed onto the NightWatch campaign, including Mwasiti, Professor Jay, Diamond, B12, Fid Q, Lady JayDee, Banana Zorro, Marlaw, Barnaba, Amini, Bi Kidude, and Linah, among others.

Every night at 9 p.m., malaria messages from the country’s biggest stars are broadcasting across TV and radio, reminding people to sleep under a bed net every night. The nightly media campaign is also designed to include key facts that reinforce general malaria knowledge and encourage other healthy behaviors, such as seeking prompt malaria diagnosis and treatment. You can see an example of the NightWatch messages that are broadcasting across Tanzania below.

In addition to an arsenal of well-known personalities in the entertainment industry, the campaign enjoys strong support of ExxonMobil and the Ministry of Health.

About the pan-African NightWatch program

NightWatch, a collaboration between Malaria No More and Lalela Project, aims to increase the utilization of malaria control tools, such as mosquito nets, in communities across Africa through a targeted communications campaign that airs nightly at 9 p.m. The idea is simple: broadcast 30 second messages — with a signature sound and recognized local celebrities — seven nights a week through radio, TV and SMS texting to remind people to sleep under their mosquito nets.