Khadijah Aliyu -Nigeria
Speak Up Africa, Sightsavers, and Brands on a Mission BOAM Partner with REMAPSEN to Empower Journalists and Amplify the Fight Against NTDs
ABIDJAN, June 10, 2025 — The upcoming 4th REMAPSEN Media Forum, scheduled for November 25–27, 2025, aims to spotlight the pressing challenges of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Africa by mobilizing media professionals as powerful advocates.
Held under the theme “Media Contribution to Positioning the Fight Against NTDs in Africa,” the event will bring together journalists, health experts, and key partners to promote effective reporting and advocacy on diseases that still affect over one billion people globally.
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Speak Up Africa, a leading health advocacy organization, is a key partner of the event.
Papa Djibril Faye, Health Advocacy Officer at Speak Up Africa, emphasized the essential role of the media:
“The media have a predominant role to play in education, awareness-raising, and resource mobilization,” said Faye. “Through this forum, we hope REMAPSEN journalists will be empowered to strengthen media coverage around NTDs in Africa, becoming advocacy allies who craft accessible and factual narratives.”
In a video message shared during the forum’s launch press conference on May 30, Professor Myriam Sidibé, Founding President of Brands On a Mission (BOAM), highlighted her organization’s alignment with REMAPSEN’s objectives:
“BOAM’s mission is perfectly aligned with REMAPSEN’s goals,” Professor Sidibé stated. “We believe that narrative is one of the most powerful tools for changing behaviors and, ultimately, systems.”
Sidibé emphasized that through the REMAPSEN Awards, BOAM is proud to celebrate and invest in the voices of African journalists, especially young reporters shaping narratives that drive progress.
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“BOAM expects journalists to adopt a solution-oriented approach that highlights challenges and innovations emerging locally,” she concluded.
Also lending strong support is Sightsavers, with Mr. Simon Bush, Director of Neglected Tropical Diseases at Sightsavers headquarters in London, stating:
“Sightsavers is pleased to join the REMAPSEN journalists’ forum in Abidjan. Although NTDs are preventable, they continue to affect more than one billion people worldwide.”
He outlined Sightsavers’ work with health ministries across Africa to eliminate five disabling diseases: trachoma, onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and intestinal worms.
“Journalists have an essential role to play in holding governments accountable for their commitments to NTD elimination,” he added.
“They can also help break the stigma surrounding these diseases and encourage patients to seek treatment.”
With strong backing from key partners, REMAPSEN is confident that the upcoming media forum and the Michel Sidibé Prizes—awarded annually at the REMAPSEN Awards—will amplify efforts to eliminate NTDs in Africa and beyond.
The 4th REMAPSEN Media Forum promises to equip journalists with the tools to tackle NTDs head-on, share local success stories, and hold stakeholders accountable. As Africa strives to eliminate these diseases, the media’s voice is more vital than ever.