“What have you done today to make you proud?”

Yvonna Chaka Chaka posed this question to the audience at an event I attended last week and it has been on my mind ever since.

The Global Health Council and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health hosted a film screening of The Motherland Tour- A Journey of African Women with Yvonne Chaka Chaka and discussion on the links between global health, development, gender and the Millennium Development Goals.  Speaking on these issues were Dr. Matthew Lunch (Director of the Global Program on Malaria at the Center for Communication Programs, CCP, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health), Louis da Gama (Malaria Advocacy and Communications Director, Global Health Advocates), and Yvonna Chaka Chaka (Entertainer and Humanitarian).

The Motherland Tour documents Yvonne Chaka Chaka’s travels to meet with women across Africa and discuss the most pressing issues they face– including malaria, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, women’s empowerment, education, and poverty. The film features personal stories and women-lead grassroots efforts to tackle these issues. Although optimistic and uplifting, the film does not shy away from highlighting the gravity of the present situation. The narrator reminds the audience of the harsh realities.

Malaria kills an African child every 30 seconds.

For rural populations the closest health clinic may be up to a four day walk away.

Most of these clinics are understaffed and under stocked.

In Sub-Saharan Africa over 24 million children and adults are estimated to be living with HIV.

After the screening, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Louis da Gama explained that they created this film with the intent of “giving voices to the voiceless.” They pointed out that leaders must be reminded of the women they are meant to be representing and who brought them into this world. They also stressed the need for programs focused on empowering women to help themselves. In Yvonne’s words, “I will hold your hand as you help yourself.” Her overall message is that “Africa has hope”, and that hope lies in empowering women (or Well Organized MEN as she joked).

Louis da Gama reminded the audience that just because the economy is in recession does not mean that HIV/AIDs, TB and malaria are also in recession. We need continued funding, to the Global Fund in particular, if there is to be any hope for the improvement of health conditions in Africa.

So back to the question. “What have you done today to make you proud?” Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Louis da Gama recommend that you contact your representatives to encourage them act boldly in support of global health funding. Here are some actions you can take today:

Sign this petition asking Obama to commit $6 billion to the Global Fund in the next three years.

Contact your member of Congress urging to honor the promise of $1 billion a year by supporting full funding for malaria.

Contact your members of Congress and urge them to continue exercising leadership on this critical issue.

Go ahead, make yourself proud!